
Class^SS 5 \ \ 

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I 

THE 
GIST OF THE BIBLE 

A Complete Handbook for Class ^ ^^ 

and Home Study ^'^^ 



By 

CHARLES A. SHOOK 

Author of "Cumorah Revisited,' 

"The True Origin of Mormon 

Polygamy," "The True 

Origin of the Book 

of Mormon," 



"Search the Scriptures"— jESUS 



CINCINNATI 

THE STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY 



Copyright, 1916 
The Standard Publishing Company 



11- 



M -4 1917 



s^ 



.<.^^ 






©CI.A453533 



PREFACE 

This book is the result of systematic study prose- 
cuted by the author, first, to better inform himself 
on Biblical history, and, secondly, to equip himself 
more fully for Bible-class work. It is intended to be 
just what its title states — the gist of the Bible. Not 
every Scriptural event is given. Those that are, have 
been described as briefly and tersely as possible, the 
main thought being to fix in the student's mind the 
systematic unfolding of sacred history as it has come 
down to us. 

With this end in view, the author has followed 
the natural divisions of the Bible; first, giving the 
periods; then their subdivisions, and, lastly, the 
events themselves, each with its proper reference. The 
text of King James' Version has been made use of 
and Usher's chronology has been adopted, though, in 
a number of instances, new chronological data appear 
in the footnotes. A few points of interest and impor- 
tance have also been elucidated in the footnotes. At 
the close of each study, questions covering the subject- 
matter discussed are given. 

The divisions of the book are termed "studies" in 
the place of "lessons," because, in some instances, 
they are too lengthy to be considered at one time. 
The suggestion is made, therefore, that if this treatise 
should be used as a text-book for Bible classes, 
the lengthy studies be considered at two, or even at 

3 



Preface 

three, different times instead of during one class 
hour. 

The author wishes here to acknowledge the help- 
fulness of many authors whom he has consulted in 
the preparation of this work, especially Dr. C. E. 
Sc^field's "Reference Bible" and Dr. J. A. Broadus' 
"Harmony of the Gospels." 

If this book should lead some to a better under- 
standing of God's word, so that in Bible-school work 
they might be better prepared to instruct others, to 
Him be all the praise. The Author. 

Ansley, Neb. 



CONTENTS 



STUDY PAGE 

I The Bible 11 

II Biblical Inspiration 18 

III Biblical Geography 25 

IV Biblical Ethnology 31 

V The Holy Land Z1 

VI Jewish Institutions 42 

VII The Creation 51 

VIII The Fall 59 

IX The Antediluvian World 64 

X The Flood 71 

XI The Dispersion 1^ 

XII The Age of the Patriarchs — Abraham 81 

XIII The Age of the Patriarchs — Isaac 91 

XIV The Age of the Patriarchs — ^Jacob 97 

XV The Egyptian Bondage — Joseph 106 

XVI The Exodus— Moses 118 

XVII The Conquest of Canaan — ^Joshua 135 

XVIII The Period of the Judges 150 

XIX The Undivided Kingdom — Saul 170 

XX The Undivided Kingdom — David 184 

XXI The Undivided Kingdom — Solomon 211 

XXII The Divided Kingdom — Israel 223 

XXIII The Divided Kingdom — ^Judah 251 

XXIV The Captivities 272 

XXV The Return 289 

5 



CONTENTS 



STUDY PAGE 

XXVI The Prophets 302 

XXVII The Persian Period 317 

XXVIII The Grecian Period 331 

XXIX The Maccabean Period 343 

XXX The Roman Period 359 

XXXI The Period of Preparation 375 

XXXII The Beginnings of Christ's Ministry 387 

XXXIII The Great Galilean Ministry 393 

XXXIV The Period of Retirement 407 

XXXV The Closing of Christ's Ministry 417 

XXXVI The Last Week 428 

XXXVII The Resurrection Days 444 

XXXVIII The Beginnings of the Church 451 

XXXIX The Life of Paul 465 

XL The New Testament Writings 488 



LIST OF MAPS 



PAGE 

1 Map of Bible Lands . . . < 27 

2 Map of Biblical Ethnology 33 

3 Map of the Natural Divisions of Palestine 39 

4 Map of the Dispersion of Noah's Posterity 77 

5 Map of Palestine in the Time of the Patriarchs. .. 83 

6 Map of the Exodus 119 

7 Map of Canaan at the Time of the Conquest 137 

8 Map of the Division of Canaan 145 

9 Map of Canaan in the Time of the Judges 151 

10 Map of the Kingdom of Saul 171 

11 Map of the Davidic Kingdom 185 

12 Map of the Divided Kingdom 225 

13 Map of the Captivities 273 

14 Map of the Babylonian Empire 279 

15 Map of the Persian Empire 319 

16 Map of the Grecian Empire 333 

17 Map of the Roman Empire 361 

18 Map of Palestine in the Time of Christ 377 

19 Map of Paul's Missionary Journeys 467 



I 



PART I. BIBLICAL INTRODUCTION 

Study I. The Bible. 

Study II. Biblical Inspiration. 
Study III. Biblical Geography. 

Study IV. Biblical Ethnology. 

Study V. The Holy Land. 

Study VI. Jewish Institutions, 



STUDY I. THE BIBLE 

I. MEANING OF THE TERM 

Our word "Bible" is from the Greek hihlos, which 
means "book." 

II. THE NAMES WHICH THE BIBLE GIVES 
ITSELF 

The Bible designates itself by various names, as 
follows: "The word of God" (Heb. 4: 12) ; "the scrip- 
tures" (John 5 : 39) ; "the law and the prophets" 
(Luke 16:16), and "the oracles of God" (1 Pet. 
4:11). 

III. DIVISIONS OF THE BIBLE 

The Bible is composed of sixty-six books, and is 
divided into two grand divisions known as the Old 
Testament and the New Testament, there being 
thirty-nine books in the former and twenty-seven in 
the latter. 

I. THE OLD TESTAMENT 

The Old Testament is divided into five divisions, 
which, with their designations and the names of their 
books, are as follows : 

1. Law (five books) : Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, 
Numbers and Deuteronomy. 

2. History (twelve books) : Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 

11 



THE GIST OP THE BlBL^ 



1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 

2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther. 

3. Devotion (five books) : Job, Psalms, Proverbs, 
Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. 

4. Major Prophets (five books) : Isaiah, Jeremiah, 
Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel. 

5. Minor Prophets (twelve books) : Hosea, Joel, 
Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, 
Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. 

II. THE NEW TESTAMENT 

The New Testament is also divided into five 
divisions, which, with their designations and the 
names of their books, are : 

1. Biography (four books) : Matthew, Mark, Luke 
and John. 

2. History (one book) : Acts. 

3. Special Letters (fourteen books) : Romans, 1 
Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Phi- 
lippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessaloni- 
ans, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon and 
Hebrews. 

4. General Letters (seven books) : James, 1 Peter, 
2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Jude. 

5. Prophecy (one book) : Revelation. 

IV. THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGES OF THE 

BIBLE 

The Bible was originally written in three lan- 
guages — the Hebrew, Chaldee or Aramaic, and the 
Greek. 

1. The Old Testament. The language of the en- 
tire Old Testament is Hebrew, excepting those pas- 

12 



THE BIBLE 



sages in Dan. 2:4-7:28; Ezra 4:8-6:18; 7:12-26 
and Jer. 10: 11, which are in the closely related Chal- 
dee or Aramaic. 

2. The New Testament. The language of the 
New Testament is a simplified form of the Greek. 

V. THE PRESERVATION OF THE BIBLE 

The Bible has been preserved to us in its manu- 
scripts, the versions made from these manuscripts 
and the quotations from it which appear in the writ- 
ings of the early Church Fathers. 

1. The manuscripts. The manuscripts of the Bible 
are those copies of it which were made in the same 
languages in which it was originally written. The 
oldest manuscript of the Old Testament (which we 
possess) dates from a little before the time of Will- 
iam the Conqueror. Of the New Testament, we have 
2,080, eighty-three of which are uncials; i. e., those 
written in capitals, and which date from before the 
tenth century of the Christian era; and 1,997 are 
cursives; i. e., those written in a running hand, and 
which are of later date."^ These manuscripts are 
written either upon parchment or vellum. The most 
important of the uncial manuscripts are: 

(1) The Codex Sinaiticus. This manuscript was 
discovered by Tischendorf in the Convent of St. 
Catherine, at the foot of Mt. Sinai, in 1859, and is 
now preserved in the Royal Library at Petrograd. 
It contains all of the New Testament and the greater 
part of the Greek version of the Old, with the apoc- 
ryphal Epistle of Barnabas and a portion of the 

* Between the tenth and the fifteenth century, when the art of print- 
ing was invented. 

13 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Shepherd of Hermas. It dates from the first half of 
the fourth century. 

(2) The Codex Alexandrinus. This codex was 
sent as a present to Charles I. of England, in 1628, 
by Cyril Lucar, the Greek Patriarch of Constanti- 
nople, who had brought it from Alexandria. It con- 
tains the Septuagint version of the Old Testament 
nearly complete and also most of the New. It dates 
from the close of the fourth, or the beginning of the 
fifth, century A. D. 

(3) The Codex Vaticanus. This manuscript has 
been preserved since 1448 in the Vatican at Rome, 
where it is now jealously guarded by the Catholic 
Church. It contains most of both Testaments and is 
the rival of the Sinaiticus in point of antiquity. 

(4) The Codex Ephraemi. This is a palimpsest, or 
a codex rescriptus; that is, a copy on which another 
work has been written over the faded letters of the 
original writing. About the twelfth century, the an- 
cient Greek Scriptures of this manuscript were writ- 
ten over with the writings of a Syrian Christian 
of the fourth century by the name of St. Eph- 
raem, hence its name. It is of about the same age 
as the Codex Alexandrinus, but it is supposed by 
some to be more accurate. It was brought from 
some unknown library in the East to Florence in 
1535. 

2. The versions. These are the translations of the 
Scriptures from their original languages into other 
tongues. The most important of the ancient versions 
are: 

(1) The Peshito Syriac. This is a translation 6£ 
both Testaments into the Syriac, or Aramean, the 

14 



THE BIBLE 



language of northern Syria and upper Mesopotamia. 
It was made in the second century A. D. 

(2) The Old Latin. This is a translation of the 
Bible made into Latin in the second century. 

(3) The Latin Vulgate. A Latin version made 
by Jerome about 385 A. D., under the orders of 
Damasus, Bishop of Rome. 

(4) The Coptic. This translation was made for 
the benefit of the Copts, or Egyptian Christians, be- 
fore the close of the second century. 

(5) The Ethiopic. A vernacular translation for 
the inhabitants of Abyssinia, made about the end of 
the fourth century A. D. 

(6) The Gothic. The production of a Cappadocian 
monk, Ulphilas, about the year 375 A. D. It was 
made for the Goths who had lately crossed the 
northern borders of the Roman Empire. 

(7) The Armenian. A translation into the Ar- 
menian language by Miesrob about the fifth century, 

3. The quotations. So great is the number of 
Scriptural quotations in the writings of the early 
Church Fathers that it is said the Bible can nearly be 
reproduced from them alone.^ 



^ A few examples will illustrate this: Theophilus, a writer of the second 
century, evidently refers to Matt. 6: 4 in the following: "Thus he teaches 
those that do good not to boast, that they be not pleasers of men. 'Let not 
thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.' " Tatian : "All things 
were made by him, and without him was not anything made" (John 1: 3). 
Clement of Alexandria: " 'Behold,' says Paul, 'the goodness and severity of 
God'" (Rom. 11:32). Tertullian: "Paul himself writes to the Philippians, 
'If by any means I may attain to the resurrection of the dead' " (Phil. 
3: 11). Irenaeus: "And on this account the apostle, in the first Epistle to 
the Thessalonians, speaking thus, 'May the God of peace sanctify you 
wholly; and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved unto the 
coming of the Lord Jesus Christ'" (1 Thess. 5:23). 

2 15 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



VI. ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE 
BIBLE 

1. Wy cliff e's Translation. This version appeared 
in the year 1380, and was immediately put under the 
ban by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who threat- 
ened excommunication to any one who should read it. 

2. Tyndale's Translation. The work of William 
Tyndale, which was published at Worms in 1525. 
Its author was burned at the stake, October 5, 1536. 

3. Coverdale's Bible. This version, the work of 
Miles Coverdale, appeared in IS'^S and was prefaced 
with a fulsome dedication to King Henry VIII. 

4. Genevan Version. The work, principally, of 
William Whittingham, Calvin's brother-in-law. It ap- 
peared in 1560 and became at once the people's book 
in both England and Scotland. 

5. Bishops' Bible. The work of fifteen scholars 
appointed by Archbishop Parker in 1563-64. As eight 
of these were bishops, it was called "The Bishops' 
Bible." It was completed in the year 1568. 

6. King lames' Version. This translation was the 
work of forty-seven scholars appointed by King James 
II. in 1604. The work was completed in 1611. 

7. Revised Version. The Revised Version was 
produced between the years 1870 and 1884 by eighty- 
two scholars, fifty-two of whom were from England 
and thirty from America. Fourteen years of labor 
were expended upon the Old Testament, but only 
ten upon the New, which was completed in 1881. 

A number of other translations of the sacred Scrip- 
tures have been made into the English language, but 
those mentioned here are the most important. 

16 



THE BIBLE 



QUESTIONS 

What is the meaning of the term "Bible"? What names does 
the Bible give itself? How many books are there in the Bible? 
How many in the Old Testament? How many in the New Tes- 
tament? Give the divisions of the Old Testament and the num- 
ber and names of the books in each. Give the divisions of the 
New Testament and the number and names of the books in each. 
Name the books of the Old Testament. Name the books of the 
New Testament. Name the books of the entire Bible. In what 
languages was the Old Testament originally written? In what 
language was the New Testament originally written? By what 
means have the Scriptures been preserved to us? What is the 
difference between a manuscript and a version? What is an 
uncial manuscript? From before what century do the uncial 
manuscripts date? Name the four most important of the uncial 
manuscripts. Name seven of the ancient versions. What can 
you say about the Scriptural quotations in the writings of the 
early Church Fathers? Give the date of Wycliffe's translation. 
The date of Tyndale's. The date of Coverdale's. The date of 
the Genevan Version. The date of the Bishops' Bible. Give the 
date of the King James' translation. How many scholars were 
employed upon it? Give the date of the Revised Version. How 
many scholars were employed upon it? How long did they 
work upon the Old Testament? How long upon the New? 



17 



STUDY 11. BIBLICAL INSPIRATION 

The Bible is unlike all other books in that it is 
inspired of God. Paul declares: 

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is 
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruc- 
tion in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, 
throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3: 16, 17). 

In just what way the Bible has been inspired, is a 
much-discussed question, but two elements, a human 
and a divine, must be conceded. The divine element 
may be divided into two processes: first, divine im- 
pulsion, by which the Bible writers were impelled to 
write; secondly, divine preservation, by which in writ- 
ing they were preserved from error. 

But, while it is true that the Bible writers wrote 
through divine impulsion and under divine preserva- 
tion, it is also true that each wrote in his own style 
and manner of expression, by which his writings may 
be distinguished from the writings of the others. As 
Christ possessed both a human and a divine side, 
so, also, the Bible possesses both a human and a 
divine side, and any theory of inspiration that does 
not recognize both can not be the true one. The 
blending of the human and divine elements in the 
Bible is forcibly brought out in the following Scrip- 
ture : 

"Holy men of God spake" — the human element ; "as they were 
moved by the Holy Ghost" — the divine element (2 Pet. 1:21). 

18 



BIBLICAL INSPIRATION 



Let us now pass to certain reasons that may be 
assigned for believing the Bible to be the inspired 
word of God. 

L THE BIBLE IS PROVED INSPIRED BY 
ITS WONDERFUL UNITY 

Although the books of the Bible were written in 
different ages, in different countries, under different 
conditions and by different men, they constitute one 
book. These books may be compared to sixty-six 
links of a great chain, any one of which is essential 
to its integrity. How are we, then, to account for 
this remarkable book, the parts of which were writ- 
ten in different climes, in different ages and by dif- 
ferent men, except upon the hypothesis that there was 
one great Mind operating through them all? 

II. THE BIBLE IS PROVED INSPIRED BY 

THE WONDERFUL EFFECT IT HAS 

HAD UPON THE WORLD 

No other book has exerted the influence for 
good upon the world that the Bible has. To this 
book, more than to any other agency, is due the 
world's progress in civilization, philanthropy and 
religion. It has transformed both individuals and 
nations; it has been the world's greatest standard in 
determining right from wrong; it has inspired those 
who love it with a desire to help their fellow-men, 
and it has given man hope in the hour of death. A 
book that has produced such an effect upon the 
world could only have emanated from the mind of 
God Himself. 

19 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



III. THE BIBLE IS PROVED INSPIRED BY 

THE CORROBORATORY TESTIMONY 

OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 

A credible book may not be inspired, but an in- 
spired book must be credible. So, if the Bible is 
what it claims to be, its historical statements must 
agree with the established facts of profane history. 
The opponents of the Bible, knowing the force of this 
argument, have ever sought zealously to show that 
it clashes with these established facts. They have 
declared that many of its kings are mere myths ; that 
many of its descriptions of life and custom are over- 
drawn, and that many of its accounts are purely 
legendary. Most of these objections were raised be- 
fore the inscriptions on the monuments were de- 
ciphered, and some of them have been so completely 
refuted since that they are no longer even referred 
to. As for the rest, it is the hope and expectation 
that, as the pick and shovel of the archeologist con- 
tinue to turn up the records of the past, these, too, 
will be refuted, leaving the Bible to stand as a 
miracle of historical accuracy, which, when we con- 
sider the natural limitations and fallibility of the men 
who wrote it, could only be if it has emanated from 
the divine Mind. 

First, the geographical descriptions of the Bible 
have been demonstrated to be in perfect agreement 
with the land. Major Condor declares that of the 
840 places noticed in the Bible, fully three-fourths 
have already been discovered and marked on maps, 
and the geographical accuracy of the account given 
in the four Gospels is even conceded by skeptics 

20 



BIBLICAL INSPIRATION 



themselves. Renan, the celebrated French doubter, 
says: 

"I have traversed in all directions the country of the Gospels. 
I have visited Jerusalem, Hebron and Samaria; scarcely an im- 
portant locality of the history of Jesus has escaped me. All 
this history, which at a distance seems to float in the clouds of 
an unreal world, thus took a form, a solidity which astonished 
me. The striking agreement of the texts with the places, the 
marvellous harmony of the Gospel ideal with the country which 
served it as a framework, were like a revelation to me. I had 
before my eyes a fifth Gospel, torn, but still legible." — Life of 
Jesus, pp. 30, 31. 

Secondly, many of the historical accounts, which, 
for years, were either questioned or denied, have been 
fully corroborated by later research. It was long 
denied that the kings of Gen. 14 : 9 — Chedorlaomer, 
Tidal, Amraphel and Arioch — were historical charac- 
ters; but more recent investigations have fully identi- 
fied them with Kudur Lagomer, Tugdula, Hammurabi 
and Ariaku of profane history. Many of the ac- 
counts in the history of Israel have also been fully 
substantiated by the Assyrio-Babylonian inscriptions. 
Such kings are mentioned as Omri, Ahab, Jehu, 
Menahem, Pekah and Hoshea, of Israel; Azariah, Ahaz, 
Hezekiah and Manasseh, of Judah; Hiram, of Tyre, 
and Ben-hadad, Hazael and Rezin, of Damascus. The 
Books of Esther and Daniel, which specially have 
been attacked by the critics, have likewise been won- 
derfully confirmed by archaeological research, and 
many of the most serious objections have been re- 
futed. For a long time it was denied that such a 
king as Belshazzar ever reigned upon a Babylonian 
throne; but, in 1854, his name was found on a brick 

2J 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



at Mugheir, Ur of the Chaldees, by Rawlinson, and 
since then other facts have been brought to light 
which estabUsh his claim to being an historical 
character. 

Thirdly, if due respect is paid to figures of speech 
and the language of phenomena, the account of 
creation, as given in the first chapter of Genesis, is 
perfectly consistent with the origin of things as 
demonstrated by science. The beginning of the uni- 
verse in a state in which all things were without 
form and void, the ascending scale of living things 
and the introduction of man as the climax of creation, 
are facts as basically scientific as they are basically 
Biblical. 

IV. THE BIBLE IS PROVED INSPIRED BY 
THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST 

Most of those, even, who question the inspiration 
of the Bible, acknowledge Christ as the supreme 
Teacher. Yet our Lord bore testimony both to the 
inspiration of certain portions of the Old Testament 
and also of the New. 

First, with Him the Old Testament was the in- 
fallible court of final appeal. He called the Fifth 
Commandment "the word of God" (Mark 7:10-13); 
He also applied the same expression to Ps. 82 : 6 
(John 10:35); He frequently referred to "the law 
and the prophets" (Matt. 11:13), and He declared 
that the "scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35). 

Secondly, He spoke of some of the Old Testa- 
ment writers as having been inspired of God. He 
declared that David called Him Lord by the Spirit 
(Matt. 22:43); He referred to Daniel as a prophet 

22 



BIBLICAL INSPIRATION 



(Matt. 24:15), and He asserted that the words of 
Moses were the words of God (Mark 7: 10-13). 

Thirdly, He referred to the occurrences men- 
tioned in the Old Testament as though there were 
no doubt as to their truthfulness. He referred to 
the creation of man, male and female, as a fact 
(Matt. 19 : 4, 5) ; He incidentally mentioned the feed- 
ing of the Israelites with manna (John 6:31); He 
called the attention of Nicodemus to the lifting up 
of the brazen serpent (John 3 : 14) ; He cited the 
destruction of Sodom as an illustration of the com- 
ing judgment (Luke 17:28, 29); He referred to the 
visit of the queen of Sheba (Matt. 12:42), and He 
spoke of the experience of Jonah as though it were 
an unquestioned fact (Matt. 12:40). 

Fourthly, in respect to the New Testament, He 
taught His apostles that He would pray the Father 
and He would send them another Comforter, who 
would abide with them, teach them all things, bring 
all things to their remembrance and guide them into 
all truth (see John, chapters 14, 15, 16). 

V. THE BIBLE IS PROVED INSPIRED BY 

THE FULFILLMENT OF ITS 

PROPHECIES 

Peter declares that "holy men of God spake as 
they were moved by the Holy Ghost," and Paul says 
that God "at sundry times and in divers manners 
spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets." 
That these assertions are true is proved by the ful- 
fillment of the predictions in both the Old Testament 
and the New. Many of the prophecies concerning 
Israel, the neighboring nations, the birth and work of 

23 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Christ, the church, the apostasy, and even conditions 
to prevail in the last days, have plainly come to pass. 
The second, seventh, eighth, ninth and eleventh chap- 
ters of Daniel, with that remarkable prophecy of our 
Lord in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, read 
almost like history, so perfectly have their predictions 
been met in the experiences of nations. 

QUESTIONS 

In what way is the Bible unlike all other books ? Give the two 
elements in Biblical inspiration. Give the two processes of the 
divine element. What passage blends the two elements? Give 
five reasons for believing the Bible to be the inspired word of 
God. What can you say of the unity of the Bible? Of its ef- 
fects upon the world? Of its agreement with history? What 
does Renan say of the agreement of the land and the book? 
What accounts in Bible history have been verified by the monu- 
ments ? For what must we make allowance in the Biblical account 
of creation? Making this allowance, does the Bible disagree with 
what has been established by scientific research? How did Christ 
speak of the Old Testament? How did He speak of Moses, 
David and Daniel? What accounts in the Old Testament did 
Christ accept as historical? What did He teach the apostles as 
to their own inspiration? What can you say of the Bible proph- 
ecies ? 



24 



STUDY III. BIBLICAL GEOGRAPHY 

The lands of the Bible comprise adjacent por- 
tions of Asia, Africa and Europe, a territory that may 
be estimated at three thousand miles east and west 
by twenty-eight hundred north and south. 

I. THE LANDS OF THE BIBLE 

1. Canaan. The land of Canaan was that portion 
of territory which lay between the river Jordan and 
the Mediterranean Sea. 

2. Egypt. The land of Egypt comprised that por- 
tion of northeastern Africa included in the northern 
Nile Valley and contiguous territory. 

3. Cush. The Biblical Cush, or Ethiopia, lay 
south of Egypt, and took in what is now comprised 
in Nubia, Abyssinia, Kordofan and Senaar. 

4. Libya. This country was in northern Africa, 
bordering on the Mediterranean Sea and west of 
Egypt. 

5. Arabia. The country of Arabia lay southeast of 
Canaan. 

6. Phoenicia. This country was north of Canaan 
and bordered on the Mediterranean Sea. 

7. Syria. Syria was just east of Phoenicia. 

8. Asia Minor. Asia Minor lay north of Phoenicia 
and the Mediterranean Sea. 

9. Armenia. Armenia joined Asia Minor on the 
east. 

25 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



10. Mesopotamia. The land of Mesopotamia lay- 
between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. 

11. Assyria. The country of Assyria bordered 
Mesopotamia on the east. 

12. Babylonia. Babylonia, or Chaldea, generally 
speaking, lay south of Assyria. 

13. Media. Media lay east of Assyria. 

14. Elam. Elam was south of Media. 

15. Persia. Persia lay south of Elam and south- 
east of Babylonia. 

16. Greece. This country is a peninsula project- 
ing out from the European continent into the Medi- 
terranean Sea. 

17. Macedon. This country joined Greece on the 
north. 

18. Italy. Italy is a peninsula projecting out from 
Europe into the Mediterranean Sea, west of Greece. 

II. THE SEAS OF THE BIBLE 

1. Mediterranean. The Mediterranean, the "great 
sea" of Bible history, lies south of Europe, west of 
Asia and north of Africa. 

2. Red. The Red Sea is found between the con- 
tinent of Africa and the peninsula of Arabia. 

3. Dead. The Dead Sea is the name of that body 
of water which borders Canaan on the southeast. 

4. Galilee. Galilee, or Tiberias, is the name of 
that fresh-water lake which lies directly east of 
Galilee in Palestine. 

5. Waters of Merom. The "Waters of Merom," 
or Huleh, are a small fresh-water lake which lies north 
of the Sea of Galilee. 

6. Black. The Black Sea lies north of Asia Minor. 

26 




2T 



k 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



7. Caspian. The Caspian Sea lies northeast of 
Armenia. 

III. THE ISLANDS OF THE BIBLE 

1. Cyprus. This island is in the Mediterranean 
Sea, just east of Phoenicia and south of Asia Minor. 

2. Crete. Crete lies in the same sea, west of 
Cyprus and southeast of Greece. 

3. Sicily. Sicily lies just south of Italy. 

4. Melita. Mehta is south of Sicily. 

5. Patmos. This island lies just off the coast of 
Asia Minor in the ^gean Sea. 

IV. THE RIVERS OF THE BIBLE 

1. Jordan. The river Jordan rises at the base of 
the Anti-Lebanon Mountains and flows south through 
the Waters of Merom and the Sea of Galilee into the 
Dead Sea. 

2. Euphrates. This river rises in Armenia and 
flows southeast into the Persian Gulf. 

3. Tigris. The Tigris also rises in Armenia, and, 
flowing eastward of the Euphrates, becomes one with 
it just before it empties into the Persian Gulf. 

4. Nile. The Nile, rising in central Africa, flows 
northward, through the eastern part of Africa, into 
the Mediterranean Sea. 

V. THE MOUNTAINS OF THE BIBLE 

1. Lebanon. The Lebanon Mountains lie on the 
northern border of the land of Palestine. . 

2. Carmel. This is the name of the range that 
formed the natural boundary between Samaria and 

28 



BIBLICAL GEOGRAPHY 



Galilee, and, running in a northwesterly direction, juts 
out into the Mediterranean Sea. 

3. Hermon. This mountain is located in the 
northern part of Galilee. 

4. Tabor. Tabor is located a short distance south- 
west of the Sea of Galilee. 

5. Calvary. Calvary lies just north of Jerusalem. 

6. Olives. The Mount of Olives lies just east of 
Jerusalem. 

7. Nebo. This mountain, sometimes called Pisgah, 
lies just east of the northern extremity of the Dead 
Sea. 

8. Sinai. Sinai is situated on the point of land 
known as the Sinaitic Peninsula, which extends south- 
ward into the Red Sea. 

VI. THE CITIES OF THE BIBLE 

1. Jerusalem. Jerusalem, the capital of the Jews, 
lies nearly midway between the northern extremity 
of the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean. 

2. Bethlehem. This town was six miles south of 
Jerusalem. 

3. Nazareth. Nazareth was located a few miles 
west of the Sea of Galilee in the country of the same 
name. 

4. Capernaum. This city, which was the head- 
quarters of our Lord during His Galilean ministry, 
stood on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. 

5. Caesarea. This city lay on the shore of the 
Mediterranean Sea, in a southwesterly direction from 
the Sea of Galilee and a northwesterly direction from 
Jerusalem. 

29 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



6. Damascus. This city lay a little northeast of 
Mount Hermon. 

7. Antioch. Antioch lay almost due north of 
Damascus and just east of the Mediterranean Sea. 

8. Corinth. This city was located in the central 
part of Greece. 

9. Athens. Athens lay directly east of Corinth. 

10. Thessalonica. This city was in Macedonia, on 
the shore of the ^gean Sea. 

11. Philippi. Philippi lay nearly east of Thes- 
salonica. 

12. Per games, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Eph- 
esus, Colosse, Troas, Miletus and Laodicea. These 
cities, or towns, were in the province of Asia, Asia 
Minor. 

13. Babylon. Babylon was located on the Eu- 
phrates River, almost directly east of Jerusalem. 

14. Nineveh. The city of Nineveh lay almost di- 
rectly north of Babylon, on the Tigris River. 

15. Noph. This city was the same as Memphis, 
and was located on the Nile a few miles below where 
Cairo now stands. 

QUESTIONS 

Let the student be able to locate on the map each country, 
sea, island, river and city mentioned 



50 



STUDY IV. BIBLICAL ETHNOLOGY 

In order properly to understand the history of 
God's chosen people, it is necessary for the student 
to have some knov^ledge of those nations by v\^hom 
they w^ere surrounded and w^ith whom they main- 
tained commercial and v^^arlike relations during that 
period of time in v^hich they occupied the Holy Land/ 

I. THE CANAANITES 

The Canaanites v^ere the descendants of Canaan, 
the youngest son of Ham, and v^ere the original 
possessors of the land of Canaan. Among their tribes 
may be mentioned the Amorites, Hittites, Jebusites, 
Girgashites, Perizzites and Hivites. Most of these 
tribes were small bodies, comprising, in some in- 
stances, only a single city. The Hittites, however, are 
known to have been a very strong and enterprising 
people. 

II. THE PHILISTINES 

The Philistines were a part of the posterity of 
Mizraim, the second son of Ham. In an early day 
they left Caphtor, in Egypt, and settled a small strip 
of Mediterranean seacoast in southwestern Canaan. 
They were the inveterate enemies of Israel, and long 
maintained five fortified cities — Gaza, Ashkelon, Ash- 



1 See "The Self-Interpreting Bible," VoL I., p. 81, for a somewhat 
full account of the nations and peoples mentioned. 
3 31 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



dod, Ekron and Gath. After suffering reverses under 
the Persians and Greeks, they were finally subdued 
by the Jews under Janneus, the grandnephew of 
Judas Maccabeus, about 88 B. C., with which they 
lost their national existence. 

III. THE EGYPTIANS 

The Egyptians were the descendants of Ham 
through Mizraim, and occupied the valley of the Nile 
and contiguous territory. They were among the 
most enlightened of the peoples of antiquity, and their 
history may be divided into three periods : The 
period of the Old Empire, from the earliest times to 
about 1900 B. C.; the period of the Hyksos, or 
Shepherd Kings, from 1900 to 1525 B. C., and the 
third period of the New Empire, from 1525 to 525 B. 
C., when the country passed under the rule of the 
Persians. In 332 B. C., Egypt passed into the hands 
of Alexander the Great, and, upon his death, was 
ruled for nearly three centuries by his successors, the 
Ptolemies, when, in B. C. 30, it passed under the 
dominion of Rome. 

IV. THE CUSHITES 

These people were the descendants of the eldest 
son of Ham. Originally they inhabited the country 
which lies southeast of Babylon and west of Persia, 
and which was known as Susiana or Chusistan ; i. e., 
"the country of Gush." Later they moved westward 
into Arabia, but finally settled in Africa, south of 
Egypt, in the country which is known as Abyssinia. 
In the Old Testament prophecies they are frequently 
spoken of in connection with the Egyptians. 

32 



The 
AKCIENT NATIONS 
of 
PALESTINE 



SYRIANS 



HITTITES 




AMALEKITES 



33 



fHE GIST OF THE BIBLK 



V. THE AMALEKITES 

These people are thought to have descended from 
Ham. They occupied that territory south and south- 
west of Canaan and extending almost from the west 
gulf of the Red Sea to the Euphrates. 

VI. THE EDOMITES 

The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, 
brother of Jacob. They inhabited that territory which 
lay south of Judah. They were a nation of hunters 
and warriors, and were often in conflict with the Jews, 
with whom their remnant was at last forced to in- 
corporate by John Hyrcanus. 

VII. THE MIDIANITES 

The Midianites were the descendants of Abraham 
through Keturah. Most of them dwelt southeast of 
Canaan, but eastward of the Edomites. They were 
a very immoral and idolatrous people. 

VIII. THE MOABITES AND AMMONITES 

These were closely allied and related tribes, de- 
scendants of Lot. They dwelt east of the Dead Sea. 
After a chequered history, they were finally reduced 
to a state of slavery by Janneus. 

IX. THE SYRIANS 

The Syrians, or Aramites, were the descendants 
of the youngest son of Shem and of Nahor, the 
brother of Abraham. Their country lay northeast of 
Canaan, and, in ancient times, extended considerably 

34 



IBIBLICAL ETHNOLOGV 



beyond the Euphrates. During the reign of David 
they came under the scepter of Israel, but afterwards 
revolted. 

X. THE ASSYRIANS 

This people was one of the most accomplished 
races of antiquity. They were the descendants of 
Shem through Ashur, and inhabited the valley of the 
Tigris, where they built Nineveh. For a long time 
they held supreme sway throughout that region, but 
in 625 B. C. their capital was taken by the combined 
forces of the Medes and Babylonians, when they 
passed under the scepter of the latter. 

XI. THE BABYLONIANS 

The Babylonians, or Chaldeans, were the descend- 
ants of Shem through Arphaxad. They inhabited the 
valley of the Euphrates, where it is claimed they 
erected Babylon upon the ruins of the Tower of 
Babel. At first they were a very accomplished race, 
and were the inventors of the cuneiform, or wedge- 
shape, style of writing, but, during the supremacy 
of Assyria, they degenerated and became little better 
than bands of thieving banditti. About 750 B. C, 
however, under Pul, they were again consolidated into 
a regular nation. In 625 B. C. they conquered Nin- 
eveh, and, later, extended their invasions throughout 
the west, even to Egypt. Under Nebuchadnezzar, 
they subjugated the Jews and led them away to 
Babylon between the years 606 and 585 B. C. They 
continued the strongest empire in the Orient from 
about 625 to 538 B. C, when Belshazzar, their last 
ruler, was overthrown by Cyrus. 

35 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



XII. THE MEDO-PERSIANS 

The Medes and the Persians were closely allied 
nations who lived eastward of Assyria and Babylonia. 
Under Cyrus, they extended their conquests until they 
were practically masters of the whole civilized world. 
After continuing as such for about two centuries, they 
fell before the power of Alexander the Great in 331 
B. C. 

XIII. THE GRECIANS 

The Greeks were the descendants of Javan, a son 
of Japheth. They inhabited the peninsula of Greece 
and adjacent territory, and were divided into a num- 
ber of petty nations; as, the Spartans, Athenians, 
lonians, Cohans and Dorians. They were a race of 
sculptors, artists and poets. Under Alexander, they 
became the conquerors of the civilized world and 
spread their culture throughout both Asia and Africa. 

XIV. THE ROMANS 

The inhabitants of Italy were called Romans. 
They were the descendants of Japheth, either through 
Javan or Gomer. The kingdom of Rome was founded 
in 753 B. C, but it was not until about 60 B. C. that 
they attained the zenith of their glory and became the 
supreme power among the nations of the earth. It 
was under their reign that Christ was born. 

QUESTIONS 

Let the student give a description of each of the nations men- 
tioned and described in the foregoing lesson. 



STUDY V. THE HOLY LAND 

The Holy Land proper extended from Mount Her- 
mon on the north to Kadesh-barnea on the south, a 
distance of 180 miles. Its extreme breadth was one 
hundred miles and its average breadth, sixty-five 
miles. Within this territory occurred most of those 
events described in the Old and New Testaments. 

I. NAMES OF THE HOLY LAND 

1. Canaan. This was the original name and was 
given because its first inhabitants were the descend- 
ants of Canaan. 

2. Land of Promise. The Holy Land was called 
the ''Land of Promise" because of the promise that 
the Lord made to Abraham that it should be given 
to him and his seed after him for an everlasting pos- 
session. 

3. Land of Israel. This name was applied to the 
Holy Land after its division among the twelve tribes. 

4. Judea. Judea, or Judah, was the name first ap- 
plied to the territory of the southern kingdom, but, 
after the Babylonian captivity, it was, in a rather 
loose way, applied to the whole territory. 

5. Palestine. This is the designation by which the 
Holy Land has been known mainly since the time of 
Christ. It is derived from "Philistine," the name of 
the people who formerly inhabited its southwestern 
borders. 

37 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



II. NATURAL DIVISIONS OF THE 
HOLY LAND 

The Holy Land is divided into seven natural 
divisions, as follows: 

1. The Maritime Plain. This is the name of that 
lowland section which skirts the Mediterranean Sea 
and extends from Philistia on the south nearly to 
Asia Minor on the north. Below Carmel it is divided, 
about equally, into two divisions, the plain of Phi- 
listia and the plain of Sharon. 

2. The Shephelah. This term is applied by our 
later geographers to that irregular mass of foothills 
which lies between the Philistine Plain and the moun- 
tains of Judah. 

3. The Mountains of Judah. This is the name 
given to those mountains which extend nearly from 
the Carmel range on the north to Beer-sheba on the 
south. 

4. The Valley of the Jordan. This is that very 
low and narrow valley through which flows the Jor- 
dan River. 

5. The Plain of Esdraelon. This plain is a very 
narrow strip of lowland extending in a northwesterly 
direction from the valley of the Jordan to the Medi- 
terranean Sea, just north of the Carmel range. It is 
one of the most fertile districts in Palestine. 

6. The Mountains of Galilee. The mountains of 
Galilee lie north of the Carmel range and between the 
Mediterranean Sea and the river Jordan. 

7. The Trans- Jordanic Highlands. These high- 
lands comprise that part of the Holy Land which lies 
eastward of the valley of the Jordan. 

38 



The 
NATURAL DIVISIONS 
of 
PALESTINE 




THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



III. POLITICAL DIVISIONS OF THE HOLY 
LAND AT THE TIME OF THE DIVISION 

Under Joshua, the Holy Land was divided among 
the twelve tribes, nine and one-half being given terri- 
tory west of the Jordan and two and one-half (Reu- 
ben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh) being pro- 
vided with territory in the trans-Jordanic region. 
Under David, the boundaries of the kingdom were 
greatly extended, so that Solomon ^'reigned over all 
kingdoms from the river [Euphrates] unto the land 
of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt" 
(1 Kings 4:21). But, at the time of the division 
under Rehoboam, the kingdom had considerably di- 
minished its size, until it comprised only about what 
it did following the conquest of Joshua. 

1. Judah. The land of Judah comprised that ter- 
ritory lying south of an irregular line drawn from 
the Jordan River, a few miles north of the Dead Sea, 
to a point on the Mediterranean seacoast a short dis- 
tance above where Jaffa now stands, and north of 
the Arabian Desert. 

2. Israel. The land of Israel lay between the 
northern boundary-line of Judah and the Arnon 
River on the south, and the Lebanon Mountains on 
the north. 

IV. POLITICAL DIVISIONS OF THE HOLY 
LAND IN THE TIME OF JESUS CHRIST 

In the time of Christ, the Holy Land was divided 
into five political divisions, as follows : 

1. Judea. Judea lay between an irregular line 
drawn east and west through about the center of 

40 



THE HOLY LAND 



Palestine on the north, and the Arabian Desert on 
the south; the Dead Sea and the Jordan on the east, 
and the Mediterranean on the west. 

2. Samaria. Samaria lay between the northern 
boundary of Judah on the south, and the Carmel 
Mountains and the city of Scythapolis on the north; 
the Jordan River on the east, and the Mediterranean 
Sea on the west. 

3. Galilee. Galilee lay between the Carmel 
Mountains and the city of Scythapolis on the south, 
and the Lebanon Mountains on the north; the Jor- 
dan River and the Sea of Galilee on the east, and the 
Mediterranean on the west. 

4. Perea. Perea was bounded on the north by 
the Yarmuk River, on the south by the river Arnon, 
on the east by the Arabian Desert, and on the west 
by the Dead Sea and the Jordan. 

5. Bashan. Bashan was bounded on the north 
by Syria, on the east by the Arabian Desert, on the 
south by the Yarmuk, and on the west by the Sea 
of Galilee and the Jordan. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the length and breadth of the Holy Land. Give the dif- 
ferent names of the Holy Land. Give the seven natural divisions 
of the Holy Land and locate each. Give the extent of the land of 
Israel in the days of Joshua. At the accession of Solomon. 
Give the extent of the territory of Judah. Of Israel. Name the 
political divisions in the time of Christ. Locate each. 



41 



STUDY VI. JEWISH INSTITUTIONS 

The Jews were an intensely religious people, and, 
as such, had their places of worship, their religious 
observances, and, later in their history, were divided 
into a number of sects or religio-political parties. 

I. JEWISH PLACES OF WORSHIP 

1. The Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was the wor- 
shiping-place of the children of Israel during their 
wanderings in the wilderness, and was built accord- 
ing to the minute directions of God. It was a rec- 
tangular structure, 45 feet long, 15 feet wide and 15 
feet high, made of acacia wood, the roof being com- 
posed of four curtains laid one upon another. The 
inside of the Tabernacle was separated into two 
apartments by a veil. The smaller of these apart- 
ments, which was 15x15 feet, was called the Holy of 
Holies and contained the ark of the covenant. The 
larger, which was 15x30 feet, was called the Holy 
Place and contained the table of showbread, the 
golden candlestick and the altar of incense. Around 
the Tabernacle was a wall made of wooden pillars, 
upon which was hung a linen curtain. The in- 
closed area was called the court, and was 150 feet 
long by seventy-five feet wide. In this court were 
found the brazen altar and the brazen laver. 

2. The Temple. After Israel had become per- 
manently settled in the Holy Land, they began to 

42 



JEWISH INSTITUTIONS 



lay plans to build a permanent place of worship. 
This was accomplished during the reign of Solomon, 
when Solomon's Temple was built. This structure 
was erected upon the plan of the Tabernacle, with 
the exception that it was built of stable materials 
and that a number of courts were added. Solomon's 
Temple being destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, Zerub- 
babel's Temple was erected upon the return from 
captivity. After some centuries, this temple was 
desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes, and was later 
sacked by the Romans and was left in a dilapidated 
condition, but was afterwards rebuilt by Herod the 
Great, following which it was known as Herod's 
Temple. It was this temple that was standing in the 
time of Christ and was the one which was finally 
destroyed by Titus in 70 A. D. 

3. The Synagogue. The Synagogue was an in- 
vention of the Jews after the Babylonian captivity. 
Meeting together for public worship, the places of 
such worship were designated "synagogues," from the 
Greek sun, "together," and ago, "to lead." The space 
within the synagogue, says Bissell, "was divided 
much on the same principle and in the same manner 
as that of the tabernacle and temple." — Biblical An- 
tiquities, p. 313. 

n. JEWISH SABBATHS 

The Jews were required by their law to observe 
certain days, or periods, of^ rest. These days, or 
periods, were called sabbaths, or "rests," and were 
strictly observed by the Jews. - 

1. The weekly sabbath. This sabbath was ob- 
served on the seventh day of the week, and was a 

43 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



requirement of the Fourth Commandment of the 
Decalogue. 

2. The lunar sabbath. This sabbath was ob- 
served on the first day of the lunar month. 

3. The sabbatical month. Tisri, the seventh 
month of the sacred year, was, in a sense, a sabbatical 
month. 

4. The sabbatical year. During the seventh year, 
the land of Israel was supposed to rest. It was not 
to be sown; the vineyards were not to be dressed, 
and no fruit or produce was to be gathered. 

5. The year of jubilee. Every fiftieth year was a 
year of jubilee. It began on the tenth day of the 
seventh month. Sacrifice being offered and the trum- 
pet being blown, liberty was proclaimed to the cap- 
tives and all alienated possessions were returned to 
their original owners. 

III. JEWISH FEASTS 

1. The Passover. This was a solemn festival ob- 
served during the week between the 14th and the 
21st of Nisan (April), the first month of the sacred 
year, in commemoration of the deliverance of the 
first-born of Israel from the tenth plague that fell 
upon the Egyptians, when the angel of death smote 
their first-born. 

2. Pentecost. This feast is also known as the 
"feast of weeks" or "harvest feast." It occurred fifty 
days after the 16th of Nisan, about the end of our 
May, and lasted one day. 

3. Tabernacles. This feast was held in the au- 
tumn (October) upon the completion of the harvest. 
It lasted one week, during which Israel dwelt in 

44 



JEWISH INSTITUTIONS 



booths in commemoration of their experiences in the 
wilderness. The three feasts just named are known 
as the greater feasts of Israel. 

4. Trumpets. This feast announced the beginning 
of the new civil year and was observed in our month 
of October. It lasted just one day. 

5. Dedication. The feast of dedication commem- 
orated the purging of the temple, after its defilement 
by Antiochus Epiphanes, by Judas Maccabeus. It 
lasted eight days and was held in the month of 
December. 

6. Purim. This feast was observed in March, 
lasted two days, and commemorated the deliverance 
of the Jews from the plot of Haman. The last three 
feasts were known as the lesser feasts of Israel. 

IV. JEWISH OFFERINGS 

1. The Bumt-oflering. For this offering an un- 
blemished male — bullock, ram or goat — was necessary. 
In the case of poor Jews, turtle-doves or tame pigeons 
were accepted. This offering was an atonement for 
sin. 

2. The Peace-offering. Animals of various kinds 
were accepted for this offering, but doves were ex- 
cluded as not sufficient for a common meal. This 
offering signified communion with God. 

3. The Sin-offering. The sin-offering for the high 
priest was invariably a bullock; for the congregation, 
either a bullock or a male goat ; for the ruler, a male 
goat, and for the private individual, a female goat, 
a female kid or a lamb. This offering signified rec- 
onciliation with God. 

4. The Trespass-offering. For this offering a ram 

45 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



or a male lamb was required. It was for those who 
sinned unwittingly in holy things and for other minor 
offenses and conditions. It signified forgiveness for 
actual transgression. 

5. The Meal-offering. This was an offering of 
fruit or grain and was an expression of thanksgiving. 

V. JEWISH SECTS AND PARTIES 

1. The Pharisees. The term "Pharisees" means 
"separated ones," and was applied for the first time, 
about 200 B. C, to that body of Jews who professed 
an advanced degree of sanctity. The Pharisees held 
to the doctrines of the existence of angels, the ter- 
restrial kingdom of the Messiah, the resurrection of 
the good and a mild form of fatalism. 

2. The Sadducees. The Sadducees derived their 
name from one Sadok, about 260 years before Christ. 
They denied any future life, taught the free will of 
the individual and rejected all tradition, confining 
themselves mainly to the books of Moses. While 
comparatively few in numbers, they constituted the 
opulent and elevated class in the time of our Saviour. 

3. The Samaritans. The Samaritans dwelt in 
Samaria between Judea and Galilee, and were the 
descendants of the heathen colonists who settled 
that country, under the direction of Esar-haddon, 
after the deportation of the ten tribes. Their religion 
was an admixture of Judaism and heathen supersti- 
tions. 

4. The Essenes. Just when this sect arose is un- 
known. They were very plain in their dress and food, 
lived in societies, had their goods in common, ob- 
served a rigid morality, were strict in their observance 

46 



JEWISH INSTITUTIONS 



of the sabbath, believed in the immortality of the 
soul, but denied the resurrection of the body, and held 
to a future state of rewards and punishments. 

5. The Herodians. This sect, or party, favored 
the policies of Herod. They were not opposed to 
idolatrous worship, were in favor of instituting pagan 
games and denied any future life. 

QUESTIONS 

Describe the Tabernacle. Give the number and names of the 
Jewish temples and the circumstances under which each was 
erected. Give the origin of the synagogue. How many sabbatical 
days or periods did the Jews observe? Describe the weekly sab- 
bath. The lunar sabbath. The sabbatical month. The sabbatical 
year. The year of jubilee. Give the names of the Jewish feasts. 
Describe the Passover. Pentecost. Tabernacles, Trumpets. 
Dedication. Purim. Name the Jewish offerings. Describe each. 
Who were the Pharisees? The Sadducees? The Samaritans? 
The Essenes? The Herodians? 



47 



PART II. OLD TESTAMENT 
HISTORY 



Study VII. 


The Creation. 


Study VIII. 


The Fall. 


Study IX. 


The Antediluvian World. 


Study X. 


The Flood. 


Study XI. 


The Dispersion. 


Study XII. 


The Age of the Patriarchs — Abraham, 


Study XIII. 


The Age of the Patriarchs — Isaac. 


Study XIV. 


The Age of the Patriarchs — Jacob. 


Study XV. 


The Egyptian Bondage — Joseph. 


Study XVI. 


The Exodus — Moses. 


Study XVII. 


The Conquest of Canaan — Joshua. 


Study XVIII. 


The Period of the Judges. 


Study XIX. 


The Undivided Kingdom — Saul. 


Study XX. 


The Undivided Kingdom — David. 


Study XXI. 


The Undivided Kingdom — Solomon. 


Study XXII. 


The Divided Kingdom — Israel. 


Study XXIII. 


The Divided Kingdom — Judah. 


Study XXIV. 


The Captivities. 


Study XXV. 


The Return. 


Study XXVI. 


The Prophets. 



49 



STUDY VII. THE CREATION 

(Gen. 1:1-2:7) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The scope of Genesis 1. The account of crea- 
tion, as recorded in Genesis 1, undoubtedly covers 
vast epochs of time. It begins when God by His 
fiat first spoke order out of chaos, and closes when 
He formed man from the dust of the ground into 
His own image and likeness. It has been estimated 
that not fewer than one hundred million years have 
elapsed since the earliest life-forms appeared, which, 
being true, the account of the first chapter of Genesis 
must comprehend vast and incomprehensible ages. 

2. The significance of the term "day." It has 
long been a mooted question whether the term "day," 
as employed in this chapter, must of necessity be 
understood literally or whether it may be understood 
representatively. The latter is now the prevailing 
opinion. It is probable that God revealed the stages 
of his great creative work to Moses in six consecu- 
tive visions, or tableaux,' each of which, being gradu- 
ally introduced and gradually fading out, appeared 
to the prophet as an ordinary day, while they 
stood in the divine mind, with whom "one day 
is as a thousand years and a thousand years as 



^ Dr. E. Nisbet, in his "Science of the Day and Genesis," explains 
this view. 

51 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



one day," as representatives of great epochs of time. 

3. The purpose of the account. It was certainly 
not the divine purpose in inspiring Moses to write 
the account of creation, to teach geology, or any 
other of the sciences. The great spiritual truth that 
God wished to impress was that the entire universe, 
and man, had their origin in Himself. Therefore, the 
account is brief and is stated in simple and popular, 
not scientifically — technical, language. 

4. The harmony between science and Genesis. If 
the fact just stated is fully recognized, it will readily 
be seen that there is no vital inharmony between 
science and Genesis. In fact, the two agree in a 
number of important respects : 

(1) Although a few scientists, as Spencer and 
Haeckel, have tried to dispense with the need of a 
sensient Creator by supposing that matter and motion, 
operating together, produced the first form, or forms, 
of life, the hypothesis of spontaneous generation is 
now rejected by most scientists as utterly incapable 
of proof and wholly unscientific."^ It may be said, 
therefore, that science and the Bible agree in declar- 
ing that before all things there existed an almighty, 
sensient, creative power, whom we call God. 



^ "This doctrine [spontaneous generation] is equally at variance with 
science, revelation and common sense, and destitute of any foundation in 
fact." — Sir J. W. Dawson, celebrated Canadian geologist. 

"The fact is that at the present moment there is not a shadow of 
trustworthy, direct evidence that abiogenesis [spontaneous generation] does 
take place, or has taken place, within the period during which the existence 
of life on the globe is recorded." — Prof. T. H. Huxley. 

"Of this [spontaneous generation] we do not possess any actual proof. 
No one has ever seen a generatio equivoca really effected; and whoever 
supposes that it has occurred, is contradicted by the naturalist, and not 
merely by the theologian." — Dr. Rudolph Virchow, the distinguished 
anatomist of Vienna. 

52 



THE CREATION 



(2) The Bible and science agree in the establish- 
ment of certain gradations of life by which we as- 
cend from the lower to the higher forms. 

(3) The Bible and science also seem to agree in 
fixing certain definite lines of demarkation between 
the species. In other words, "connecting links" are 
not found either in the Bible or in the rocks. So 
far as we can ascertain, laying aside certain mere 
evolutionary hypotheses or guesses, there has been 
no difference in character between the species at the 
time of their introduction and at the time of their 
passing out of existence. 

5. The date of man's creation. The date of man's 
creation is wholly unknown and wholly unknowable. 
Archbishop Usher fixed upon 4004 B. C, but Origen 
gave 4830; Hales, 5411; Crawford, 12500, and Bunsen, 
20000 B. C, as the correct date. This broad diversity 
among different scholars should teach us caution in 
attempting to fix the exact time when man first ap- 
peared upon the earth. 

These few introductory remarks bring us to con- 
sider the great creative work of God as that work is 
revealed in the first and second chapters of Genesis. 

I. THE FIRST DAY 

At the opening of the first creative day, all was 
chaos, the earth being "without form and void." 
This description fully agrees with what is now known 
as the nebular hypothesis, according to which, at first, 
all things were in a nebulous state.^ The first great 



1 See Chapter I., "The Story of the Earth and Man," by Sir J. W. 
Dawson, for an explanation of this theory from the viewpoint of the Chris- 
tian scientist, 

53 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



act of God was to create light, and to divide the light 
from the darkness, calling the light day and the dark- 
ness night. 

"And the earth was without form, and void ; and darkness was 
upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon 
the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light : and 
there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and 
God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the 
light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening 
and the morning were the first day" (Gen. 1:2-5). 

II. THE SECOND DAY 

On the second day the great Creator separated the 
heaven from the earth and divided *'the waters which 
were under the firmament from the waters which 
were above the firmament," or the vapor in the aerial 
heavens above from the waters of the earth below. 

"And God said. Let there be a firmament in the midst of the 
waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God 
made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under 
the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: 
and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the 
evening and the morning were the second day" (Gen. 1:6-8). 

IIL THE THIRD DAY 

On the third day God separated the land from the 
sea and began the creation of plant life. 

"And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered 
together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was 
so. And God called the dry land Earth ; and the gathering to- 
gether of the waters called he Seas : and God saw that it was 
good. And God said. Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb 
yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, 
whose seed is in itself, upon the earth : and It was so. And the 
earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his 

54 



THE CREATION 



kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after 
his kind : and God saw that it was good. And the evening and 
the morning were the third day" (Gen, 1:9-13). 

IV. THE FOURTH DAY 

On the fourth day the heavenly bodies became 
visible. Prior to this time, the light had been diffused 
through nebulous clouds, but now these clouds were 
removed, and the sun, moon and stars became visible 
as distinct bodies. The word "made" of verse 16 
does not imply a creative act; verses 14-18 are de- 
clarative of function merely.^ 

"And God said. Let there be lights in the, firmament of the 
heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for 
signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years; and let them 
be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the 
earth : and it was so. And God made two great lights ; the greater 
light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he 
made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the 
heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and 
over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and 
God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning 
were the fourth day" (Gen. 1 : 14-19). 

V. THE FIFTH DAY 

On the fifth day fishes and birds of every kind 
were introduced. 

"And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the 
moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the 
earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great 
whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters 
brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged 
fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God 



* For this explanation, see Dr. C. I. Schofield's "Reference Bible" at 
this place, 

55 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters 
in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening 
and the morning were the fifth day" (Gen. 1 : 20-23). 

VI. THE SIXTH DAY 

The first act of the sixth day was the creation 
of cattle, creeping things and beasts of the earth. The 
second act was the creation of man. Some have sup- 
posed that the accounts of the creation of man, as 
given in chap. 1 : 26, 27 and chap. 2 : 7, are not ac- 
counts of the same creative act, but that the first 
refers to the creation of the spirit and the second to 
the formation of the body. This position is incorrect, 
the first being the general, and the second the par- 
ticular, account. 

"And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature 
after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth 
after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the 
earth after his kind, the cattle after their kind, and every thing 
that creepeth upon the earth after his kind : and God saw that it 
was good. And God said. Let us make man in our image, after 
our likeness : and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, 
and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the 
earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God 
created he him ; male and female created he them" (Gen. 1 : 24-27). 

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, 
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life ; and man became 
a living soul" (Gen. 2:7). 

From these accounts we draw three important 
truths : 

1. God created man. He has not always existed; 
he has not been produced by spontaneous generation; 
he is the work of God. 

2. God created man. He was not evolved from the 

56 



THE CREATION 



brutes, independent of divine power; he was the 
creation of God. If we take this view, it is not neces- 
sary, as has been charged, that we adopt the un- 
scientific theory of creation independent of law. The 
creation of man may be reasonably assumed to have 
been consistent with that law of which God was the 
great Lawgiver. Creation without law is as errone- 
ous as creation without God." 

3. God created man. Not men — many pairs — but 
a single pair from whom all races have sprung. Dur- 
ing the past century the theory of polygenism, or the 
diverse origin of the human race, was held by such 
scholars as Morton, Agassiz, Nott and Gliddon. 
Agassiz claimed that the Almighty created seven 
distinct sources from whence the seven great divisions 
of humanity sprang. But this theory is now gen- 
erally considered untenable, and scientists, both cre- 
ationists and evolutionists, have pretty generally set- 
tled down to the conclusion that all men have sprung 
from one source, whatever that source may have 
been.^ This is called the theory of monogenism. 

VII. THE SEVENTH DAY 

Completing His creative work, God rested on the 
seventh day. 

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all the 
host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which 
he had made ; and he rested on the seventh day from all his 
work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and 



1 See "The Story of the Earth and Man," pp. 340-42. 

2 "The theory of 'monogenism,' or the specific unity of man, is now 
adopted by most anthropologists." — Dr. D. G. Brinton, in his "Myths of 
the New World/' p. 63. 

57 



HiE GIST 6l? THE felBLfi 



sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work 
which God created and made" (Gen. 2:1-3). 

Two things are to be noticed: 

1. The seventh day was God*s great rest-day. On 

it He rested from all His creative work. This day 
has not yet had an end, for, while we read of the 
beginning and ending of the other six days, no limit 
is placed to this, by which we know that God is still 
resting.^ The word "rested" does not imply that God 
was fatigued with his labor, but it is used simply in 
the sense of ended or completed. God completed His 
work and ceased to create. 

2. Not given to man. While God rested on the 
seventh day, there is not a hint that it was then 
given to man. God hallowed and blessed it at cre- 
ation, but it was not "made known" to man until 
the law was given on Mount Sinai (Neh. 9:14). 

QUESTIONS 

What can you say as to the scope of the account of creation 
as given in Genesis 1 ? Give the significance of the term "day." 
What is the purpose of the account? Give three points of agree- 
ment between science and Genesis. What can you say as to the 
date of man's creation? Give what occurred on the first day. 
On the second day. On the third day. On the fourth day. On 
the fifth day. On the sixth day. Who created man? Was man 
created or evolved from the lower forms of life? What can you 
say about the relation of law to creation? What is the theory 
of polygenism? Of monogenism? In what sense did God rest? 
Was the sabbath given to man at creation? If not, when was it 
given to him? 



* God is simply resting from his creative, not his redemptive, work. 



58 



STUDY VIII. THE FALL 

(Gen. 2:8-3:24) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The location of Eden (Gen. 2:8). The Bible 
declares that after man had been created, he was 
placed in a garden eastward in Eden. The location 
of Eden has ever been a mooted question. The most 
reasonable hypotheses are that it either lay in the 
highlands of Armenia or else was in the valley of the 
Euphrates. 

2. The formation of Eve (Gen. 2:21-25). After 
man had been placed in the garden, the Lord rea- 
soned that "it is not good that man should be alone." 
He, therefore, caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam 
and from one of his ribs formed Eve. Some one has 
said that woman was not taken from man's head that 
she might rule over him, nor from his feet that he 
might rule over her, but from his side that she might 
be his equal. 

I. MAN'S ORIGINAL CONDITION 

1. It was one of innocence. As originally created, 
man was as pure from defilement as a new-born babe. 
He was created morally upright: 

"Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright ; 
but they have sought out many inventions" (Eccl. 7:29). 

59 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



2. It was one of dominion over the lower crea- 
tures. 

"And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of 
the field, and every fowl of the air ; and brought them unto Adam 
to see what he would call them : and whatsoever Adam called 
every living creature, that was the name thereof" (Gen. 2: 19). 

This was in agreement with the original promise, 
which was: 

"Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the 
fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and 
over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" (Gen. 
1:26). 

3. It was one of labor. 

"And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden 
of Eden to dress it and to keep it" (Gen. 2: 15). 

4. It was, evidently, one of exemption from death. 
Death is the consequence of sin, and, as sin had not 
yet been committed, death had not yet passed upon 
the race. 

IL THE TEMPTER 

1. The tempter was, without doubt, a personality. 

Notwithstanding some have made the devil a simple 
personification of sin, the general teaching of the 
Bible seems to prove that he is a being morally anti- 
thetical to God. He is called ''the devil" (Matt. 4:1), 
"Satan" (Job 1:6), "father of lies" (John 8:44), 
"enemy" (Matt. 13:39), "prince of this world" (John 
12:31), "prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2), 
etc. 

2. The tempter operated through a serpent (Gen. 
3:1-15). We are not to suppose from the account 



THE FALL 



that a literal serpent became the devil. The serpent 
was simply the agent through which the devil 
operated in the deception. It seems probable from 
the account that originally this beast walked upright, 
and that as a result of the curse (Gen. 3:14) his 
species crawl upon the ground. 

III. THE TEMPTATION 

1. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil 
(Gen. 2:9). Among the trees of the garden, there 
were two sufficiently important to be mentioned, the 
*'tree of life" and the "tree of the knowledge of good 
and evil." The latter was the test-tree of the temp- 
tation. 

2. The divine prohibition. The Lord laid the fol- 
lowing prohibition upon the tree of the knowledge 
of good and evil : 

"Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of 
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of 
it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" 
(Gen. 2:16, 17). 

3. The deception of the serpent (Gen. 3:4, 5). 
Following the placing of the prohibition upon the tree 
of the knowledge of good and evil, the serpent ap- 
peared to the woman, both with a lie and a truth. 
The lie was: "Ye shall not surely die;" the truth 
was : "Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." 

4. The fall of Eve and Adam (Gen. 3:6). Flat- 
tered and deceived, the woman partook of the forbid- 
den fruit, and gave it unto her husband also, and he 
did eat. Their eyes being then opened, they saw 
their nakedness and attempted to cover the same 
with aprons of fig leaves. 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



IV. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FALL 

1. Man was driven from the garden of Eden (Gen. 
3:23, 24). In other words, he lost Paradise, that 
beautiful home which God had specially prepared for 
him. 

2. The ground was cursed (Gen. 3:17, 18). 
Thorns and thistles sprang up in place of the fruits 
which had grown spontaneously in Eden. 

3. Man was condemned to toil (Gen. 3:19). He 
was to eat his bread in the sweat of his face until he 
returned to his dust. 

4. Sorrow and pain were introduced. 

"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow 
and thy conception ; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children ; 
and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over 
thee" (Gen. 3:16). 

5. Man became a sinner. 

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and 
death by sin ; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have 
sinned" (Rom. 5: 12). 

6. He became a mortal, dieable creature. The 

clause of the prohibition, "Thou shalt surely die," 
evidently refers to physical death and means no 
more than "thou shalt become dieable." ' That 
physical death is a consequence of the fall is made 
certain from the following declaration of Paul : 

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made 
alive" (1 Cor. 15:22). 



* "From that moment thou shalt become mortal, and shall continue in 
a dying state till thou die." — Paraphrase of Dr. Adam Clarke. "Thou shalt 
be mortal." — Greek of Symmachus. "Thou shalt be subject to death." — 
Targum of Jonathan, 

62 



THE FALL 



QUESTIONS 

Give two hypotheses as to the location of Eden. Why was 
Eve created? Why was she taken from Adam's side? What was 
man's original state? What was the character of the tempter? 
Was the tempter a real serpent? What two trees of the garden 
are specially mentioned? Give the divine prohibition. How did 
the serpent deceive Eve? Give six consequences of the fall. 



^ 



63 



STUDY IX. THE ANTEDILUVIAN WORLD 

(Gen. 4:1-6-12) 
INTRODUCTION 

The antediluvian epoch was that period of time 
which lay between the fall of man and the flood. 
The length of this period can not be determined, 
although many attempts have been made to do so.' 
The leading characters of the antediluvian world 
were Adam, Cain, Abel, Seth, Jared, Enoch, Methu- 
selah, Lamech and Noah. During this period, the 
people progressed considerably in civilization, but 
also delved deeply into sin and corruption. 

I. THE FIRST MURDER 

(Gen. 4:1-15) 

Immediately after the fall, men began to offer 
sacrifices unto the Lord. These sacrifices, no doubt, 
were enjoined of the Lord, and were for the pur- 
pose of keeping before man the fact of his fall and 
also the fact of the coming Sacrifice through the 



* "The Hebrew chronology may be computed with accuracy to the era 
of the building of the Temple, or at least to the division of the tribes — 
tenth century B. C. In the interval between that date and the arrival of 
Abraham in Palestine, Hebrew chronology can not be ascertained with ex- 
actness, but may be computed with near approximation to the truth. Be- 
yond Abraham, we can never know how many centuries, nor even how 
many chiliads of years, may have elapsed since the first man of clay 
received the image of God and the breath of life." — Dr, Charles Pritchard, 
quoted in "Science of the Day and Genesis," p. 101. 

64 



THE ANTEDILUVIAN WORLD 



shedding of whose blood he should be redeemed 
from sin and death. The two sons of Adam, Cain 
and Abel, brought sacrifices unto the Lord. Cain's 
consisted of the "fruit of the ground," while Abel 
brought of the ''firstlings of his flock." The offering 
of Abel was accepted, while that of Cain was re- 
jected, evidently because it was not typical of the 
bleeding Sacrifice that was afterwards offered on 
Mount Calvary. Because of this, Cain was jealous 
of Abel, and in his wrath slew him. The Lord then 
asked Cain where his brother was, to which Cain 
replied: "Am I my brother's keeper?" The Lord 
answered: "What hast thou done? the voice of thy 
brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground." 
Cain was then cursed, and was told that he should 
be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth. 

II. LONGEVITY 

' (Gen. 5 : 1-32) 

The record tells us that the people of the ante- 
diluvian world lived to great ages. Adam was 930 
years old when he died. Seth was 912. Enos was 
905. And Methuselah was 969. The great age 
that has been attributed to the antediluvians has 
been objected to by the enemies of the Bible as 
impossible, and this part of the account has been 
relegated to the realms of mythology. The defend- 
ers of the Bible have met this objection in two ways : 
First, some have contended that such names as Abel, 
Seth, Methuselah and Jared were mere tribal designa- 
tions. Thus, one has suggested that Abel was the 
name of a tribe of shepherds who were extirpated 

65 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



by the predatory clan of Cain; that Jared, which 
means "ruling," was the name of a dominant clan 
or tribe which exercised supreme authority, etc. 
Others have contended that the account is to be 
taken literally, but that the age of the antediluvians 
was miraculously prolonged, or was due to the char- 
acter of the lives they lived and the fact that sin 
and death had not become so virulent as in after 
years. If we take the account literally, we must 
attribute the great age of the antediluvians wholly 
to the miraculous intervention of God, and then it 
will not be necessary to understand that all men 
attained to such extreme lengths of life, but only 
those whose names are mentioned. On this point, 
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, in their "Commen- 
tary," say: 

"The most striking feature in this catalogue is the longevity 
of Adam and his immediate descendants. ... It is useless 
to inquire whether and what secondary causes may have con- 
tributed to this protracted longevity — vigorous constitutions, the 
nature of their diet, the temperature and salubrity of the climate ; 
or, finally, as this list comprises only the true worshippers of God, 
whether their great age might be owing to the better government 
of their passions, and the quiet, even tenor of their lives. Since 
we can not obtain satisfactory evidence upon these points, it is 
wise to resolve the fact into the sovereign will of God." 

III. ANTEDILUVIAN CIVILIZATION. 

The Bible teaches that the people of the ante- 
diluvian world were not mere savages, but that 
they had attained to a considerable degree of civili- 
zation. 

1. Herdsmen. Some of the descendants of 
Lamech were herdsmen : 

66 



THE ANTEDILUVIAN WORLD 



"And Adah bare Jabal : he was the father of such as dwell in 
tents, and of such as have cattle" (Gen. 4:20). 

2. Musicians. Others of the descendants of 
Lamech were musicians: 

"And his brother's name was Jubal : he was the father of all 
such as handle the harp and organ" (Gen. 4:21). 

3. Metallurgists. Still others of the descendants 
of Lamech worked in the metals : 

"And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructor of every 
artificer in brass and iron : and the sister of Tubal-cain was 
Naamah" (Gen. 4:22). 

4. Builders. The art of building seems to have 
made progress in the days before the flood: 

"And Cain knew his wife ; and she conceived and bare Enoch : 
and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the 
name of his son, Enoch" (Gen. 4: 17). 

IV. THE SINS OF THE ANTEDILUVIAN 
WORLD 

The antediluvian world was exceedingly sinful. 
Sins that beggar description were practiced and 
evil was rampant. 

1. Forgetfulness of God. Notwithstanding their 
high degree of culture and the blessings of the 
Lord, the antediluvians were very forgetful of God. 
In fact, in no age since has there been so much 
spiritual carelessness as in that age just preceding 
the flood. This is shown by the great proportion 
of evil against the small proportion of good. 

2. Immorality. It seems that in this age, so soon 
after God had created one woman for one man, 

67 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



polygamy was introduced. Of Lamech, the account 
says: 

"And Lamech took unto him two wives : the name of the one 
was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah" (Gen. 4: 19). 

The social sin was also rampant: 

"And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face 
of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of 
God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they 
took them wives of all which they chose" (Gen. 6:1, 2). 

Some, as the Rabbins, most of the Church 
Fathers, Luther, Stier, Alford, Kurtz and Delitszch, 
have thought that ''the sons of God" were angels 
who consorted with the daughters of men, and the 
Codex Alexandrinus renders the phrase "the angels 
of God," but most modern Bible students are of the 
opinion that "the sons of God" were the godly 
descendants of Seth who became enamored and con- 
sorted with the godless descendants of Cain, thereby 
wrecking their faith and plunging themselves into 
wickedness. 

3. Violence. It seems, also, that deeds of violence 
were practiced by the antediluvians. 

"The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was 
filled with violence" (Gen. 6: 11). 

4. Sinful imaginations. So exceedingly sinful 
were the antediluvians that their every thought was 
evil: 

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the 
earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart 
was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5). 

68 



THE ANTEDILUVIAN WORLD 



5. But all of those who lived before the flood 
were not evil. Of Enoch we read: 

"And Enoch walked with God : and he was not ; for God took 
him" (Gen. 5:24). 

Again, of Noah it is said: 

"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Gen. 6:8). 

V. THE WARNING TO THE ANTEDILU- 
VIANS 

But, notwithstanding the exceeding sinfulness of 
the people of the antediluvian world, God did not 
injElict punishment upon them without first giving 
them an adequate warning and an opportunity to 
repent. 

1. The preacher. The one who was divinely 
called to warn the antediluvian world of the impend- 
ing judgment was Noah, the son of Lamech. 

2. The message. The message that Noah deliv- 
ered, according to Peter (2 Pet. 2:5), was a message 
of "righteousness," from which we infer that its 
burden was the immorality and corruption of those 
days, as well as the emphasizing of the thought of 
judgment. 

3. The length of Noah's ministry. Although the 
length of time in which Noah preached righteousness 
to the antediluvians is not given, the account is that 
the Lord said : 

"My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also 
is flesh : yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years" (Gen. 
6:3). 

This was the time of the "longsuffering of God," 

69 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



which makes it probable that the length of Noah's 
ministry was 120 years, if not longer. 

4. The results of Noah's ministry. (1) The world 
was made responsible before God for its own con- 
dition and end. (2) Eight souls, including Noah, 
were saved from destruction in the flood. 

QUESTIONS 

Define the expression "antediluvian epoch." Name the lead-* 
ing characters of this epoch. Give two reasons for the sacrifices 
that were offered. Who was the first murderer? Who was the 
first man murdered? How old was Adam? How old was 
Methuselah? What objection is made to the longevity of the 
antediluvians? Give the two theories of those who accept the 
Bible account. If we accept the account as literal, how may the 
great age of these men be explained? If we accept the account 
literally, is it necessary for us to understand that all of the ante- 
diluvians attained to such great ages? Give four occupations that 
were followed in antediluvian times. Were all who lived before 
the flood wicked people? Mention nine who were not. Through 
whom did God warn the antediluvians? What was the character 
of his message? Give the length of God's longsuffering. Give 
the results of Noah's ministry, 



70 



STUDY X. THE FLOOD 

(Gen. 6:13-8:22) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The flood a divinely-sent judgment. Unlike 
most similar occurrences, the flood was not simply 
a natural cataclysm, due to natural causes, but was 
a divinely-sent judgment upon the antediluvian world 
on account of its sins. 

2. Traditions of the flood. Traditions of the 
flood are widely extant. They are found among 
nations in all parts of the world, both enlightened 
and unenlightened. Lenormant, the great Oriental 
scholar, says : "Among all the traditions which con- 
cern the history of primitive humanity, the most 
universal is that of the flood." These traditions 
have been found among the Chaldeans, Hindoos, 
Chinese, Persians, Greeks and many other peoples. 

I. THE BUILDING OF THE ARK 

(Gen. 6:13-22) 

The ark was a vessel made of gopherwood, 450 
feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.^ It con- 
tained a window, a door in the side, and was built 



^ A cubit, originally, was the distance from the elbow to the extremity 
of the middle finger, or about eighteen inches in length. The sacred cubit 
was nearly twenty-two inches in length. Whether or not the above dimen- 
sions are correct, depends upon the cubit meant. 

71 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



with three stories. It was pitched both within and 
without. Into this vessel, with Noah and his family, 
were received animals of various kinds : those that 
were unclean in pairs, male and female, and those 
that were clean in sevens. With these was also 
gathered ''all food that is eaten," both for man and 
beast. 

II. THE CAUSES OF THE FLOOD 

(Gen. 7:11, 12) 

We have already mentioned the fact that the 
purpose of God to inflict punishment upon the un- 
godly was the primal cause of the flood ; but there 
were also two secondary causes: (1) Rain. For forty 
days and forty nights it rained incessantly, but this 
was not sufficient to inundate the earth. So (2) 
the fountains of the great deep were broken up. This, 
undoubtedly, was the main secondary cause of the 
flood. The ground probably sank, and the water, 
gushing up from its bowels, covered the entire land. 
That such an occurrence is possible is proved by the 
geological record. 

IIL THE EXTENT OF THE FLOOD 

(Gen. 7:19-24) 

Because the Book of Genesis speaks of "all the 
high hills, that were under the whole heaven," as 
being covered with water, some have inferred that 
the flood covered the entire earth. But this suppo- 
sition is now no longer considered tenable. Similar 
expressions are employed elsewhere in the Bible 
with undoubtedly restricted senses ; for instance, in 

72 



THE FLOOD 



Gen. 41 : 56 a famine is said to have been "over all 
the face of the earth," whereas it affected the land 
of Egypt and adjacent countries only. Again, in 
Deut. 2 : 25, it is said that the fear of Israel should 
be put "upon the nations that are under the whole 
heaven," which was true only of a limited area in 
the Old World. On the extent of the flood, Delitzsch 
says : "The Scripture demands the universality of 
the flood only for the earth as inhabited, not for the 
earth as such." Such a view can not be objected 
to as unscientific. 

IV. THE DURATION OF THE FLOOD 

(Gen. 7:11-8:14) 

The period of time in which the waters prevailed 
upon the earth is said to have been 150 days (Gen. 
7:24), but from the time that "the foundations of 
the great deep were broken up, and the windows of 
heavens were opened" (Gen. 7: 11), to the time when 
the earth was dried (Gen. 8:14), was just one year 
and ten days. 

V. THE BIRDS SENT OUT 

(Gen. 8:6-12) 

After the waters had prevailed upon the earth 
for 150 days, God remembered Noah and those that 
were with him in the ark, and made a wind to pass 
over the earth so that the waters were assuaged. 
The ark then rested upon the summit of Mount 
Ararat, and when the tops of the mountains began 
to appear, Noah opened the window of the ark and 
sent out a raven, which flew hither and thither until 

73 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



the waters were dried up. He also sent forth a 
dove, but as it found no rest for the soles of its feet, 
It returned. After seven days, the dove was sent 
out again and returned with an olive leaf, by which 
Noah knew that the waters had begun to go down. 
Seven days later, the dove was sent out again, bat 
did not return. 

VI. NOAH LEAVES THE ARK 

When the waters were fully abated, Noah and his 
family, with the beasts that were in the ark, went 
forth upon the dry land. 

1. Noah builds an altar (Gen. 8:20). No sooner 
did Noah reach the dry ground than he erected an 
altar and offered thereon burnt-offerings of every 
clean beast and clean fowl. 

2. The promise of Jehovah (Gen. 8:21, 22). 
Probably in recognition of this act of worship, 
Jehovah made the following promise : 

"And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in 
his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's 
sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; 
neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have 
done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold 
and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not 
cease." 

3. The covenant of Jehovah (Gen. 9:1-19). The 
Lord then enjoined upon man the duty of multiply- 
ing and replenishing the earth; declared the sacred- 
ness of human life (Gen. 9:5, 6), and established 
his covenant not only with man, but also with all of 
the beasts of the earth, that there should not "any 
more be a flood to destroy the earth" (Gen. 9:11). 

74 



THE FLOOD 



The token of this covenant was the rainbow, which 
the Lord promised He would set in the clouds. 

4. Noah's drunkenness (Gen. 9:20-27). After 
this, Noah became an husbandman and planted a 
vineyard. Making wine from the fruit of the vine, 
he became drunken in his tent. His son Ham, seeing 
his nude condition, told his brethren, Shem and 
Japheth, who, going backward, covered him with a 
garment. When Noah awoke from his drunkenness 
and discovered that Ham had informed his brethren 
of his condition, he said : "Cursed be Canaan ; a ser- 
vant of servants shall he be unto his brethren." 

5. Noah's death (Gen. 9:28, 29). Noah lived 950 
years, or about 350 years after the flood, when he 
died. 

QUESTIONS 

Was the flood simply a natural occurrence? What can you 
say about the traditions of the flood? Give a description of the 
ark. How did the animals go into the ark? Give two second- 
ary causes of the flood. Why have some supposed that the waters 
of the flood covered the whole earth? How do you know that 
this was not necessarily so? What is the theory of the ex- 
tent of the flood generally accepted at the present time? How 
long did the waters prevail upon the earth? Give the entire 
length of the period of the flood. How many birds were sent out 
and what were they? Why did Noah build an altar? What kind 
of beasts and fowls did he offer upon it? What was the promise 
of Jehovah? What was the token of the covenant? What sin 
did Noah commit? What curse did he pronounce upon Canaan? 
How old was Noah when he died? How long was it after the 
flood that his death occurred? 



75 



STUDY XL THE DISPERSION 

(Gen. 10:1-11:9) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The tower of Babel (Gen. 11: 1-9). Following 
the flood, the whole earth was of one speech, and, 
as they journeyed eastward, they came to the land 
of Shinar and dwelt there. Here they determined 
to build an enormous tower, whose top was to 
reach unto heaven, which was to be a memorial unto 
them so that they might not be scattered abroad. 
This tower is known to us as the "Tower of Babel," 
and is supposed to have been erected where the city 
of Babylon afterwards stood. When the Lord saw 
what the people were doing. He came down and 
confounded their language, so that they left off to 
build the city and were scattered upon the face of 
all the earth. 

2. The historical value of the table of nations. 
The table of nations who are said to have sprung 
from Noah's sons, as that table is given in Genesis 
10, is declared to possess historical value and to be 
both accurate and reliable. Says Rawlinson : "When 
we examine the groups which the author of the 
tenth chapter of Genesis has thrown together, we 
find, to say the least, a most remarkable agreement 
between the actual arrangement which he has made, 
and the conclusions to which ethnological inquirers 

76 





1 


2i 


i 2 


S' 


25 
•bo 

1-^ 


P3 


o 




« 


H ^ 


»^ 




1 



^3 



(?' 




77 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



have come from a consideration of the facts of 
human language and physical type." While Del- 
itzsch, in the latest edition of his "Commentary," 
declares : ''Nowhere is found a survey of nations that 
can be compared with the ethnological table of the 
Bible." 

3. The outspreading and scattering of the nations. 
Some suppose that there is a difference between the 
account of the outspreading of the nations, as given 
in chapter 10, and that of the scattering of the 
nations, as given in chap. 11:1-9. The first is said 
to antedate the building of the tower and to be 
general in its application; the second is said to be 
subsequent to the building of Babel, and to be re- 
stricted in its application to those countries adjacent 
to Shinar. On this point, the "Popular and Critical 
Biblical Encyclopedia" says : "An unbiased reading 
of the text appears most plainly to mark the dis- 
tinctness, in time and character, of the two narra- 
tives. The first was universal, regulated, orderly, 
quiet and progressive; the second, local, embracing 
only a part of mankind, sudden, turbulent and 
attended with marks of the divine displeasure." 

Let us now pass to establish the identification of 
the descendants of Noah with the nations known to 
history. 

I. THE SONS OF JAPHETH 

(Gen. 10:1-4) 

1. Gomer. The Gomerites settled northwest of 

the Black Sea, and from them have come the Gauls, 

Britons, Russians and Germans. 

78 



THE DISPERSION 



2. Magog. Magog settled north of the Caspian 
Sea, and from him sprang the Scythians. 

3. Madai. Madai settled Media, south of the Cas- 
pian Sea, and from him came the Medes. 

4. Javan. Javan settled Greece, and from him 
sprang the Greeks and Romans. 

5. Tubal. Tubal settled between the Black and 
Caspian Seas, and from him have come the Iberians. 

6. Meshech. Meshech settled between the Black 
Sea and the country of Armenia, and the Moschi 
have come from him. 

7. Tiras. Tiras settled in the vicinity of Con- 
stantinople, and from him sprang the Thracians. 

II. THE SONS OF HAM 

(Gen. 10:6-20) 

1. Cush. Cush journeyed southward from Babel 
and settled Ethiopia, or Cush, south of Egypt. 

2. Mizraim. Mizraim settled Egypt, and from 
him sprang the Egyptians. 

3. Phut. This son of Ham settled northern Africa, 
west of Egypt, and from him came the Libyans. 

4. Canaan. Canaan settled in Palestine, and from 
him sprang the Canaanites. 

III. THE SONS OF SHEM 

(Gen. 10:21-31) 

1. Elam. The descendants of Elam settled that 
country which lay east of Babylon. They were 
known as the Elamites. 

2. Ashur. Ashur settled on the east bank of the 
river Tigris, and from him came the Assyrians. 

6 79 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



3. Arphaxad. Arphaxad settled on the Euphrates, 
and from him came the Babylonians or Chaldeans. 

4. Lud. The children of Lud inhabited Asia 
Minor, and from them came the Lydians, from whom 
the country of Lydia was named. 

5. Aram. Aram settled what is known as Syria, 
and from him came the Syrians. 

QUESTIONS 

Linguistically speaking, what were the inhabitants of the world 
immediately after the flood? What did they build? Where did 
they build it? What did they build in connection with the tower? 
What did God do? What can you say of the historical value of 
the table of nations as given in Genesis 10? Do Bible students 
agree that all the nations were scattered from Babel? What dif- 
ference do they assume between the outspreading and the scat- 
tering of nations? Generally speaking, what continent did each 
of the sons of Noah colonize? How many sons did Japheth 
have? What nation, or nations, sprang from each? How many 
sons did Ham have? What nation, or nations, sprang from each? 
How many sons did Shem have ? What nation, or nations, sprang 
from each? 



80 



STUDY XII. THE AGE OF THE PATRI- 
ARCHS—ABRAHAM 

(Gen. 11:26-25:10) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The name "Abram." This name, which was the 
first to be applied to that character about whom we 
are to study in this lesson, means ''high father" or 
"father of elevation." It was subsequently changed 
to "Abraham," which means "father of a multitude." 

2. The times in which Abraham lived. Abraham 
lived in the twentieth and nineteenth centuries be- 
fore Christ. At this time, Eg}^pt was probably the 
strongest and most accomplished nation of the Old 
World, although Chaldea was not far behind. While 
he was born during the existence of the old Egyptian 
Empire, Abraham lived long after the Hyksos, or 
Shepherd Kings, had overthrown that power and 
had established a Semitic line upon the throne of 
Egypt. Chaldea was also basking in the smiles of 
fortune, and, in both countries, commerce, education 
and art flourished. 

3. Commercial intercourse. The great nations of 
the time of Abraham carried on commerce with one 
another. The Nile, Mediterranean and Euphrates 
were great waterways of commerce, and carried the 
traffic of the civilized nations back and forth upon 
their bosoms. Great caravans, also, passing up the 

81 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Euphrates Valley, crossed over into Phoenicia and 
down through Canaan into Egypt, laden with the 
wares of Babylon, and returned, bringing with them 
the products of Egypt and Ethiopia. At this time 
the Chaldean writing, called the cuneiform, was the 
written language of trade and letters, and great 
libraries of cylinders and tablets of baked clay, bear- 
ing its peculiar wedge-shape characters, have been 
unearthed at Tel-el-Amarna, Egypt, and at other 
points in Oriental lands, which reveal the high de- 
gree of civilization that was enjoyed during those 
early times. 

I. THE LIFE OF ABRAM BEFORE ENTERING 
CANAAN 

1. Abram at Ur (Gen. 11:26-30). Abram was 
born in the city of Ur in the land of Chaldea, a short 
distance below the city of Babylon. This town is 
now known as Mugheir. His father's name was Terah, 
and the names of his two brothers were Nahor and 
Haran, the latter being the father of Lot. Haran 
died before they left Ur. It was at Ur that Abram 
obtained his beloved Sarah, and it was here (Acts 
7 : 2-4) that the Lord made to him the promise that, 
if he would leave his kindred and his father's house, 
He would make him a great nation and that in him 
should all the families of the earth be blessed. 
Abram lived in idolatrous surroundings, and it is 
even said that his father was a manufacturer of 
idols. 

2. Abram at Haran (Gen. 11:31-12:4). After 
the death of Haran and the marriage of Abram, 
Terah, taking his family and starting for Canaan, 

82 



The 

AGE 

of the 

PATRIARCHS 



•Damascus 




AMORITES 



AMALEKITES 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



passed up the Euphrates Valley in a northwesterly 
direction and came to Haran. Here, after a time, 
Terah died, and Abram, being seventy-five years of 
age, took his nephew Lot, and "went forth into the 
land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they 
came." 

II. THE LIFE OF ABRAM FROM HIS EN- 
TRANCE INTO CANAAN TO THE 
BIRTH OF HIS SON ISAAC 

1. The first settlements in Canaan (Gen. 12:5-9). 
Abram, upon entering Canaan, "passed through the 
land unto the place of Sichem,^ unto the plain of 
Moreh." Here the Lord again appeared to him and 
promised him the land, upon which Abram built an 
altar. From Sichem, Abram removed to a mountain 
on the east of Bethel, where he pitched his tent and 
built another altar, calling upon the name of the 
Lord. 

2. Abram goes into Egypt (Gen. 12: 10-20). There 
was a famine in the land of Canaan, and Abram left 
that country and went down into Egypt. As his 
wife, Sarah, was fair to look upon, he charged her 
that she should pose as his sister, fearing that if 
she appeared as his wife the Egyptians would take 
his life. This Sarah did and was received into 
Pharaoh's house, and Abram was well treated for 
her sake and accumulated flocks and herds and serv- 
ants. But the Lord was displeased and plagued 
Pharaoh and his house, whereupon Pharaoh, learning 
that Sarah was Abram's wife, sent them both away. 



1 The same as Shechem. 

84 



THE AGE OF THE PATRIARCHS— ABRAHAM 

3. Abram separates from Lot (Gen. 13:1-13). 
Leaving Egypt, Abram returned to Bethel, where 
trouble arose between the herdsmen of his cattle 
and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle. He then proposed 
to Lot that he should choose the portion of the land 
that he desired and that the two should separate. 
This Lot did, and selected the valley of the Jordan, 
which included the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. 

4. Jehovah renews his covenant with Abram (Gen. 
13:14-18). After Abram and Lot had separated, 
the Lord again appeared to Abram and told 
him to look northward and southward, eastward and 
westward, promising him all the land that he should 
see as an everlasting inheritance, and also promising 
him a seed as numerous as the dust of the earth. 
Abram then removed to Mamre, where he built an 
altar unto the Lord. 

5. Abram delivers Lot (Gen. 14:1-24). Sometime 
after Abram had removed to Mamre, the kings, 
Amraphel of Shinar, Arioch of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer 
of Elam, and Tidal, king of nations, made war upon 
the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and neighboring 
kingdoms, because they had revolted against Chedor- 
laomer, and, coming to the cities of Sodom and 
Gomorrah, sacked them and carried Lot and his 
goods away with them. When Abram heard that 
Lot had been taken captive, he pursued his captors 
to Dan, in the northern part of Palestine, and rescued 
him and his goods. On his return, Melchizedek, 
priest of the most high God, met him and blessed 
him, and to Melchizedek Abram paid tithes of all. 

6. The covenant renewed and Abram's vision 
(Gen. 15:1-21). The Lord again appeared to Abram 

85 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



and promised him an innumerable seed. As confirma- 
tion of this covenant, Abram was told to take a 
heifer, a she-goat and a ram, each three years old, 
and a turtle-dove and a young pigeon, and to divide 
them, excepting the birds, laying one piece against 
the other/ When night came, a deep sleep fell upon 
Abram, and in a vision he saw a smoking furnace, 
and a burning lamp pass between the pieces. Fol- 
lowing this, the Lord promised him and his seed 
all the land from the river of Egypt to the river 
Euphrates. 

7. The birth of Ishmael (Gen. 16:1-16). As 
Sarah was childless, she gave to Abram her bond- 
maid, Hagar, as a concubine, who, when she had 
conceived, was despised in the eyes of her mistress 
and was driven from her face. Fleeing into the 
wilderness, Hagar came to a fountain in the way of 
Shur, where the angel of the Lord found her. Here 
she was commanded to return to her mistress and 
was promised a numerous seed through the son who 
w^as to be born to her. When the son was born, she 
gave to him the name of "Ishmael," which means 
"God hears." 

8. Abram's name changed and circumcision insti- 
tuted (Gen. 17:1-19). When Ishmael was born, the 
Almighty appeared to Abram, renewed the covenant, 
changed Abram's name to Abraham, instituted cir- 
cumcision as a sign of the covenant and promised 
an heir through Sarah. 

9. The destruction of Sodom (Gen. 18:1-19:38). 
As Abraham sat in the door of his tent at Mamre at 



1 This formality is still practiced by the Oriental nations in making 
contracts. 



THE AGE OF THE PATRIARCHS— ABRAHAM 

noon, three men' appeared to him. After receiving 
the courtesies of his house, one of them, the Lord, 
revealed to Abraham his purpose to destroy Sodom. 
Hearing this, Abraham began to intercede for the 
city. He asked the Lord if He would spare it if 
fifty just ones could be found in it. The Lord 
replied that He would. The number was then reduced 
to forty-five, then to forty, then to thirty, then to 
twenty and then to ten, with the same answer. 
The Lord then went His way, and at evening two 
angels appeared to Lot as he sat in the gate of 
Sodom. Lot took them into his house and fed them, 
whereupon the men of Sodom, hearing that he was 
entertaining strangers, encompassed the house and 
threatened him with violence if the men were not 
given up. The angels then reached forth their hands, 
drew Lot into the house and smote those without 
with blindness. Lot was then commanded to take 
his family and flee from the city, which he did, 
going to Zoar. On the way, his wife looked back 
and was turned into a pillar of salt. Then the Lord 
rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah 
and destroyed them. Lot shortly left Zoar and 
dwelt in a cave, where he committed a great sin by 
which he became the father of Moab and Ammon. 
10. Abraham's lapse at Gerar (Gen. 20:1-18). 
After the destruction of Sodom, Abraham left Mamre 
and sojourned at Gerar. Abimelech, king of Gerar, 
upon being told by Abraham that Sarah was his 
sister, took her to wife. But the Lord told Abime- 
lech in a dream that Sarah was Abraham's wife, and 

* The "three men" are supposed to have been a theophany of the Father, 
Son and Holy Spirit. 

87 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



he called Abraham and rebuked him for his deception, 
restored Sarah to him and made him a present of 
sheep, oxen and servants. Strictly speaking, Abra- 
ham did not lie either to Pharaoh or Abimelech, for 
Sarah was his half-sister (Gen. 20:12), yet he was 
guilty of practicing deception. 

III. THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM FROM THE 
BIRTH OF ISAAC TO HIS OWN DEATH 

1. The birth of Isaac (Gen. 21 : 1-8). When Abra- 
ham became one hundred years old, the Lord fulfilled 
the promise which He had made him, and Sarah bore 
him a son whom he called Isaac. The child was 
circumcised when eight days old, and his birth was 
made the occasion of great rejoicing to Abraham and 
his friends. 

2. Hagar and Ishmael cast out (Gen. 21:9-21). 
After the birth of Isaac, Sarah saw Ishmael mocking, 
and, going to Abraham, she demanded that Hagar 
and her son be cast out. This grieved Abraham, 
but the Lord appeared and told him to hearken to 
the voice of Sarah, promising him that Ishmael 
should become a great nation. Abraham then com- 
plied with this demand, and, rising up early and 
taking bread and a bottle of water, he sent Hagar 
and her son into the wilderness of Beer-sheba. When 
the water was all drunken, Hagar cast the child 
under a shrub and went a good way off that she 
might not see him die. But the Lord heard her cry 
and opened her eyes so that she saw a well of water, 
and, filling her bottle, she gave the child drink. 
Ishmael grew, became an archer and dwelt In the 
wilderness of Paran. When he reached a marriage- 

88 



THE AGE OF THE PATRIARCHS— ABRAHAM 

able age, his mother took for him a wife out of the 
land of Egypt. 

3. The offering of Isaac (Gen. 22:1-24). The 
Lord tempted Abraham and commanded him to take 
Isaac upon one of the mountains in the land of 
Moriah and offer him there for a burnt-offering. 
Abraham, making all necessary preparations, started. 
When they neared the appointed place, Isaac said: 
''Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the 
lamb for a burnt-offering?" Abraham then erected 
the altar and, placing the wood in order upon it, 
bound Isaac and laid him upon the wood. He then 
reached forth his hand to slay his son, when an 
angel of the Lord called to him out of heaven and 
commanded him not to slay Isaac. As Abraham 
lifted up his eyes, he saw behind him a ram caught 
in a thicket by his horns. Slaying the ram, he offered 
it as a burnt-offering in place^ of his son, and called 
the place Jehovah- jireh. Then the angel reconfirmed 
the covenant with iVbraham and he returned to 
Beer-sheba. 

4. The death and burial of Sarah (Gen. 23:1-20). 
Sarah died at the age of 127 years and was buried 
in a cave in Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham 
purchased of the sons of Heth. 

5. Seeking a bride for Isaac (Gen. 24:1-25:23). 
Abraham dispatched his chief servant, Eliezer, to 
Haran to secure a wife for his son from among his 
own kindred. Eliezer returned with Rebekah, who 
became the wife of Isaac. 

6. Abraham weds Keturah (Gen. 25:1-4). After 



This was typical of the vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ. 
89 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



the death of his beloved Sarah, Abraham took to 
wife Keturah, by whom he had Zimran, Jokshan, 
Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. 

7. The death of Abraham (Gen. 25:7-10). Abra- 
ham, having made Isaac his sole heir, died at the 
age of 175 years and was buried by his sons, Isaac 
and Ishmael, in the cave of Machpelah by the side 
of his wife Sarah. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the general outline of this study. What is the meaning 
of the names "Abram" and "Abraham" ? What can you say about 
the times in which Abraham lived? Tell about the commercial 
intercourse of the nations in the time of Abraham. Where was 
Abram born? Who was his father? Where did Abram go from 
Ur? How old was he when he left Haran? Name the two 
points at which he first stopped in Canaan. Where did Abram 
go from Bethel? What happened in Egypt? Why did Abram and 
Lot separate? What covenant did God make with Abram? Tell 
about Abram delivering Lot. Who was Ishmael? Tell about 
the destruction of Sodom. Who was Abimelech? How old was 
Abraham when Isaac was born? Tell about the casting out of 
Hagar and Ishmael. Tell about the offering of Isaac. Where was 
Sarah buried? Who was Abraham's chief servant? Where was 
he sent to find a wife for Isaac? Whom did Abraham marry 
after Sarah's death? How old was Abraham when he died and 
where was he buried? 



90 



STUDY XIII. THE AGE OF THE PATRI- 
ARCHS—ISAAC 

(Gen. 21 : 1-35 : 29) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The name "Isaac." The name "Isaac" means 
"laughter" and was given by Abraham to his son 
by Sarah because of his great joy over his birth. 

2. The date of his birth. The date of Isaac's 
birth, as given by Usher, is 1897 B. C. 

I. THE EARLY LIFE OF ISAAC 

1. The birth of Isaac (Gen. 21:1-8). Isaac was 
the son of Abraham by his legitimate wife, Sarah, 
and was born at Gerar. When eight days of age, he 
was circumcised by his father, who also made a 
great feast on the day that he was weaned. 

2. The offering of Isaac (Gen. 22:1-14). Some- 
time after Isaac had arriA^ed at boyhood, he was 
taken by his father, by divine command, out upon 
Mount Moriah to be offered as a burnt-offering. 
This was simply to test Abraham's faith, and Isaac's 
life was spared by divine intervention, a ram being 
provided as an offering in his place. 

XL SEEKING A BRIDE FOR ISAAC 

1. Abraham's instructions to Eliezer (Gen. 24: 
1-9). As Abraham grew in years, he became solic- 
itous in regard to Isaac's welfare and, calling his 

91 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



eldest servant, Eliezer, he made him place his hand 
under his thigh and swear that he would not take 
for his son a wife from among the Canaanites, but 
that he would go to his own country and kindred 
and there find a wife for him. 

2. Eliezer starts for Mesopotamia (Gen. 24:10- 
14). Following the instructions of Abraham, Eliezer 
departed for the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia, with 
ten camels laden with the goods of his master. When 
he reached the city, he made his camels kneel without 
by a well of water, and there he prayed that the 
Lord might show favor to his master's house and 
that, when the women of the city came to draw 
water, the one who, when asked for a drink, should 
say, "Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also," 
should be the one divinely chosen to be the wife of 
Isaac. 

3. Eliezer meets Rebekah (Gen. 24: 15-28). While 
Eliezer was tarrying at the well, there came, among 
the women to draw water, Rebekah, the daughter 
of Bethuel, who was a son of Nahor, Abraham's 
brother. As she came to the well, Abraham's ser- 
vant ran to meet her and said : '*Let me, I pray thee, 
drink a little water of thy pitcher." To which she 
replied: "Drink, my lord." She also filled the trough 
for the camels. Eliezer then took a golden earring 
and two bracelets of gold, and, giving them to her, 
inquired whose daughter she was and if there was 
room in her father's house for him to lodge. The 
damsel replied that she was the daughter of Bethuel 
son of Nahor, and that her father had both straw and 
provender and room to lodge In. She then ran ahead 
and told her brother Laban who Eliezer was. 

92 



THE AGE OF THE PATRIARCHS— ISAAC 

4. Eliezer meets Laban and Bethuel (Gen. 24: 
29-61). When Laban saw the earring and the 
bracelets which Eliezer had given to Rebekah, and 
heard her words, he exclaimed to Abraham's servant: 
"Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore stand- 
est thou without?" Entering the house and ungird- 
ing and feeding his camels, Eliezer proceeded to 
state the object of his mission. He told of the 
greatness of Abraham and of his wealth ; how a son 
had been given him through Sarah to whom he had 
given all that he possessed; how his master had 
made him swear that he would not take a wife for 
Isaac from among the Canaanites, but from among 
his own kindred; how he had prayed that the Lord 
might direct him, and how Rebekah had come to the 
well in fulfillment of his petition. When Bethuel 
and Laban heard the story of Eliezer, they exclaimed : 
"The thing proceedeth from the Lord : we cannot 
speak unto thee bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is 
before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy 
master's son's wife." At these words, Eliezer bowed 
himself to the earth and worshiped God, and, bring- 
ing forth his precious things of gold and silver and 
raiment, he gave them to Rebekah and also presents 
to her mother and brother. 

5. Rebekah is brought to Isaac (Gen. 24:62-67). 
The necessary preparations having been made, Elie- 
zer, Rebekah and their attendants started on their 
journey to Canaan. As Isaac came from the way of 
the well Lahai-roi, he went out at eventide into a 
field to meditate, and, lifting up his eyes, he saw the 
camels of Eliezer coming. When Rebekah saw him, 
she lighted from her camel, covered her face with a 

93 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



veil, and Isaac took her into his mother's tent and 
she became his wife. 

III. THE LATTER DAYS OF ISAAC 

1. The birth of Esau and Jacob (Gen. 25:24-26). 
The first important event in the life of Isaac, after 
taking Rebekah to wife, was the birth of the twin 
brothers, Esau and Jacob. Isaac was sixty years 
of age when Esau and Jacob were born. 

2. The Abrahamic covenant confirmed to Isaac 
(Gen 26:1-5). There was a famine in the land, 
like the famine in the days of Abraham, and Isaac 
went down to Abimelech, king of Gerar. Here the 
Lord said to him : "Sojourn in this land, and I will 
be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and 
unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I 
will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham 
thy father; and I will make thy seed to multiply as 
the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all 
these countries ; and in thy seed shall all the nations 
of the earth be blessed." 

3. Isaac's lapse at Gerar (Gen. 26:6-16). Isaac, 
like his father Abraham, lapsed at Gerar. When he 
was asked by the men of that place if Rebekah was 
his wife, he answered that she was his sister. But 
this deception was exposed, and Isaac was asked to 
leave the country, Abimelech saying: "Go from us;- 
for thou art much mightier than we." 

4. Isaac, the well-digger (Gen. 26:17-33). Isaac 
then departed from Gerar and dwelt in the valley 
of Gerar. Here he reopened the wells which had 
been dug in the days of Abraham, but which had 
been closed by the Philistines after Abraham's 

94 



THE AGE OF THE PATRIARCHS— ISAAC 

death. This created strife between his herdsmen 
and those of Gerar, the latter declaring that the 
water was theirs. Following this, the Lord again 
appeared to Isaac in Beer-sheba and reconfirmed His 
covenant, upon which Isaac erected an altar. After 
this, Abimelech came to Isaac for the purpose of 
renewing their friendship. But Isaac replied to him 
and his servants : ''Wherefore come ye to me, seeing 
ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?" 
To which Abimelech answered : "We saw certainly 
that the Lord was with thee." A covenant was 
then made and confirmed between the two. 

5. Esau weds Hittites (Gen. 26:34, 35). When 
Esau was forty years of age, he married Judith, the 
daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Bashemath, 
the daughter of Elon the Hittite, which was very 
displeasing to Isaac and Rebekah. 

6. The deception of Jacob (Gen. 27:1-33). Isaac 
became old, and Jacob, his son, deceived him into 
placing upon his head the blessing which rightfully 
belonged upon the head of Esau. As this will be 
considered in the next study, we will let it pass 
with the mere mention here. 

7. The death of Isaac (Gen. 35:27-29). Isaac 
died in Mamre, where his father Abraham had lived, 
when 180 years old, and was buried by his sons, 
Esau and Jacob. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the general outline of this study. What does the name 
"Isaac" mean? When was Isaac born? What was the name of 
his mother? Where was he taken to be offered as a burnt- 
offering? What was the name of Abraham's chief servant? 
What did Abraham instruct Eliezer to do? Where did Eliezer 
7 95 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



go? Where did he meet Rebekah? Tell about his meeting with 
Bethuel and Laban. Tell about the meeting of Isaac and 
Rebekah. What was the first important event in the life of Isaac 
after his marriage to Rebekah? Where did Isaac go after the 
birth of Esau and Jacob? What did the Lord promise him there? 
What was the name of the king of Gerar? What trouble did 
Isaac have with him? What did Isaac do after he left Gerar? 
Whom did Esau wed? How did Isaac and Rebekah feel about 
it? Where did Isaa-^j r^ie? How old was he? 



9G 



STUDY XIV. THE AGE OF THE PATRI- 
ARCHS—JACOB 

(Gen. 25:24-50:14) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The name "J^cob." The name "J^cob" means 
"supplanter" and was given to its bearer by his 
father Isaac, because of him having supplanted his 
brother Esau, both in his birthright and his bless- 
ing. 

2. The date of Jacob's birth. According to Usher, 
Jacob v^as born in the year 1836 B. C. 

I. THE EARLY LIFE OF JACOB 

1. The birth of Jacob (Gen. 25:24-26). Jacob 
was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the twin 
brother of Esau. 

2. Jacob buys Esau's birthright (Gen. 25:27-34). 
The brothers grew and developed different disposi- 
tions. Esau was a cunning hunter and a man of the 
field, while Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 
The first was the favorite of his father, the second 
of his mother. Jacob sod pottage, and, as Esau came 
in faint from the field and asked for food, he said: 
"Sell me this day thy birthright." To which Esau 
replied : "Behold, I am at the point to die : and what 
profit shall this birthright do to me?" Jacob then 
made him confirm the sale with an oath, in return 

97 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



for which he gave him bread and a pottage of 
lentiles/ 

3. Jacob steals Esau's blessing (Gen. 27:1-41). 
When Isaac became old, he called Esau to him and 
requested him to take his bow and quiver and go 
into the field and procure for him some venison. 
Esau departed, and his mother, who had overheard 
Isaac's request, went to Jacob, told him of the same 
and charged him to go to the flock, slay two kids, 
bring them to her and she would make of them 
savory meat for his father. Jacob with some reluc- 
tance departed, slew the kids and brought them to 
Rebekah, who prepared them as she had suggested. 
Then, clothing Jacob in Esau's garments and giving 
the food into his hands, she sent him to Isaac. As 
Jacob entered into the presence of his father, Isaac 
demanded that he come near, and, when he had felt 
of his son, for he was blind and could not see, he 
said: "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are 
the hands of Esau." He then demanded : "Art thou 
my very son Esau?" Jacob replied in the affirmative, 
and Isaac ate the food and blessed him. After Jacob 
had received the blessing and had gone out, Esau 
came in with his savory dish and offered it to his 
father. Isaac trembled exceedingly and exclaimed: 
"Where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it 
me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and 
have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed." 
When Esau heard these words, he cried out in the 
deepest anguish: "Bless me, even me also, O my 
father." But Isaac replied : "Thy brother came with 



A plant belonging to the same family as the common garden pea. 
98 



tHE AGE OF THE PATRIARCHS— JACOB 

subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing." To 
which Esau exclaimed: "Is not he rightly named 
Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: 
he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he 
hath taken away my blessing." When Isaac heard 
this, he blessed Esau also, and promised him that his 
dwelling should be the fatness of the earth and of 
the dew of heaven from above, and that, when he 
should obtain dominion, he should break his brother's 
yoke from off his neck. Upon receiving this blessing, 
Esau said in his heart: "The days of mourning for 
my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother 
Jacob." 

II. JACOB'S FLIGHT TO HARAN 

1. Rebekah plans Jacob's flight (Gen. 27:42-28: 
9). Esau's purpose to slay Jacob was told Rebekah, 
and she sent for Jacob and charged him to flee to her 
brother Laban in Haran, and dwell there until his 
brother's anger should subside. She then went to 
Isaac and complained to him that she was weary of 
her life because of the daughters of Heth, for fear 
Jacob would take one of them to wife. Isaac then 
called Jacob and commanded him to go to Padan- 
aram and there take a wife from the daughters of 
Laban. 

2. Jacob at Bethel (Gen. 28:10-22). As Jacob 
journeyed toward Haran, he came to a certain spot 
where he tarried for the night, resting his head upon 
a pillow of stones. During the night he dreamed 
that a great ladder was set up into heaven and that 
the angels of God descended and ascended upon it. 
The Lord also appeared to him, standing at its 

99 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



head, and confirmed the covenant which He had made 
with Abraham and Isaac, promised him the land 
upon which he lay, and also that he should have a 
seed as numerous as the dust of the earth, through 
whom the families of the earth should be blessed. 
In the morning Jacob took the stones which had 
served him as a pillow and erected of them a pillar 
which he anointed with oil. He then called the 
place Bethel and departed. 

3. Jacob at Haran (Gen. 29:1-30:24). As Jacob 
neared Haran, he came to a well in the midst of a 
field. Around this well were lying three flocks of 
sheep. Jacob inquired of the shepherds whence they 
had come, and they replied: "Of Haran are we." 
They also told him that Rachel, Laban's daughter, 
would come with her sheep for the purpose of giving 
them water. Rachel came to the well as the shep- 
herds had said, and Jacob rolled away the stone 
from the well's mouth and watered her sheep, telling 
her, at the same time, that he was the son of her 
father's sister. Upon hearing this, Rachel ran and 
told her father, who came out to meet Jacob and to 
welcome him into his house. Laban had two daugh- 
ters: Leah, the elder, who was tender-eyed, and 
Rachel, who was beautiful and well favored. Jacob 
loved Rachel and promised Laban that he would 
serve him seven years if he would give her to him 
for his wife. To this Laban assented, and for seven 
years Jacob served him. But, at the expiration of 
this time, Laban deceived Jacob and gave him Leah 
instead. When Jacob discovered the deception, he 
reproached Laban, but the latter replied that it was 
not the custom of his country to give the younger 

100 



THE AGE OF THE PATRIARCHS— JACOB 

before the firstborn. He then told Jacob that if he 
would serve him another seven years, he would give 
him Rachel. This Jacob consented to do and, at 
the expiration of that time, received Rachel to wife. 
Eleven of Jacob's sons were born to him at Haran : 
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun 
by Leah ; Gad and Asher by Zilpah, Leah's maid ; 
Dan and Naphtali by Bilhah, the maid of Rachel, and 
Joseph by Rachel. 

4. Jacob's settlement with Laban (Gen. 30:25- 
31:55). After the birth of Joseph, Jacob went to 
Laban and demanded a settlement that he might re- 
turn to his own country. Laban at first insisted 
upon Jacob tarrying with him, but, upon his refusal, 
he consented to the proposition. According to the 
agreement of settlement, Jacob was to have the 
speckled and spotted cattle and goats and the brown 
sheep from Laban's flocks and herds, as his hire. 
These were separated from the rest, but when it was 
ascertained that Jacob's flocks and herds were far 
in excess of those of Laban, the latter was wroth, 
and by divine direction Jacob fled out of the land. 
But Rachel had carried off certain images which 
belonged to her father, and, when Laban discovered 
that these were gone, he pursued Jacob and over- 
took him at Mount Gilead. He reproached Jacob 
for leaving him so abruptly and at unawares, and 
accused him of stealing his gods. Upon hearing this 
accusation, Jacob permitted Laban to search his 
goods, but, as Rachel had hidden the images among 
the camels' furniture and had sat upon them, they 
were not found, and the search ended with a cove- 
nant between Laban and Jacob, made at Mizpah, 

101 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



after which Laban returned to Haran and Jacob 
continued on his journey to Canaan. 

III. THE RECONCILIATION BETWEEN 
JACOB AND ESAU 

1. Jacob prepares to meet Esau (Gen. 32:1-32). 
As Jacob went on his way, he sent messengers to his 
brother Esau, asking for a peaceful settlement of 
their difficulty. The messengers returned with the 
word that Esau and four hundred men were on their 
way to meet him. Jacob was greatly troubled at 
this information, and divided his possessions into 
two bands so that if one was attacked by Esau the 
other might escape. He then besought the Lord for 
deliverance, and, selecting 220 goats, 220 sheep, 30 
camels with their colts, 50 cattle and 30 asses, he sent 
them on ahead as a present to Esau. Having done 
this, he arose and took his family over the ford 
Jabbok, after which he went away by himself and 
wrestled with a man^ until the breaking of the day. 
As the man could not prevail against him, he 
touched Jacob's thigh so that it slipped out of joint, 
and yet he wrestled on, saying: 'T will not let thee 
go, except thou bless me." As a reward for his 
persistency, the man changed his name from "J^^o^" 
to "Israel," which means "a prince with God." 

2. Jacob meets Esau (Gen. 33:1-20). On the 
mxorrow Jacob lifted up his eyes and saw Esau com- 
ing in the distance. Putting himself in the front of 
his family, he went out to meet his brother, and, 
drawing near to him, bowed before him seven 



1 This "man" was none other than the Angel of the Covenant, He who 
afterwards became the Christ. 

102 



THE AGE OF THE PATRIARCHS— JACOB 

times. At this Esau embraced him, fell on his neck 
and kissed him, and they wept. Esau then inquired 
who the women and children were, and Jacob replied 
that they were those whom the Lord had given him. 
Esau also asked in regard to the drove which Jacob 
had sent on before him. Jacob replied that they 
were intended as a present from him, upon which 
Esau, with some objections, received them. The 
brothers then parted, Esau returning to Mount Seir 
and Jacob following to Succoth. From Succoth he 
came to Shalem in Shechem, where he purchased a 
parcel of a field from the children of Hamor. 

IV. THE LATTER DAYS OF JACOB 

L Jacobus difficulty with Shechem (Gen. 34: 1-31). 
Shechem, the son of Hamor, loved Dinah, the daugh- 
\er of Jacob, and asked his father to get her for him 
that she might become his wife. As Hamor was 
considering the matter with Jacob, the sons of Jacob 
came in from the field, and, hearing of the folly that 
had been wrought in Israel, they were very wroth, 
and two of them, Simeon and Levi, taking their 
swords, went into the city and slew Hamor and 
Shechem and carried away their possessions. This 
rash act greatly grieved Jacob, for fear that it might 
raise the enmity of the inhabitants of Canaan against 
him. 

2. Jacob returns to Bethel (Gen. 35:1-15). Jacob 
now returned by divine command to Bethel. He 
first charged his household to put away their strange 
gods and to change their apparel, after which they 
set out for that place. When they came to Bethel, 
Jacob erected an altar and called the name of the 

103 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



place El-Bethel. Here the Lord renewed His 
covenant with Jacob. 

3. The birth of Benjamin and death of Rachel 
(Gen. 35:16-20). Leaving Bethel, Jacob came to 
Ephrath, where Benjamin was born and where 
Rachel died. Ephrath is the same as Bethlehem. 

4. Death of Isaac (Gen. 35:27-29). Leaving^ 
Ephrath, Jacob spread his tent beyond the tower of 
Edar. He then removed to Mamre, where his father, 
Isaac, dwelt. Soon after this, Isaac died and was 
buried by Jacob and Esau. 

5. Jacob goes into Egypt (Gen. 37:1-47:26). 
After Isaac's death, Joseph, the son of Jacob, being 
sold into Egypt, Jacob and his sons went down into 
that land under divine direction and promise. Here 
they were exalted by the reigning Pharaoh, who, 
learning that they were shepherds, permitted them 
to settle in the land of Goshen, where they grew in 
numbers, wealth and affluence under the paternal 
reign of the Shepherd Kings. 

6. Death of Jacob (Gen. 47:27-50:14). Jacob 
died at the age of 147 years, after dwelling in Egypt 
for seventeen years. As his end drew near, he 
called Joseph to him and requested that he might 
be carried back to the land of his fathers for burial. 
He then blessed Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephra- 
im, placing his right hand upon the head of 
Ephraim, the younger. Then, calling his twelve sons 
to him and blessing each, he "gathered up his feet 
into the bed, yielded up the ghost, and was gathered 
unto his people." Jacob was afterwards embalmed, 
according to the custom of Egypt, and, when seventy 
days of mourning had expired, he was taken by his 

104 



THE AGE OF THE PATRIARCHS— JACOB 

sons back to the land of Canaan and buried in the 
cave of Machpelah. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the general outline of this study. What does the name 
"Jacob" mean? When was Jacob born? Give the names of his 
father and mother. Give the difference in character between 
Esau and Jacob. What did Jacob give Esau for his birthright? 
Tell how Jacob stole Esau's blessing. Why did Jacob flee to 
Haran? How did Rebekah plan his flight? What did Jacob see 
at Bethel ? Where did Jacob first meet Rachel ? How was he re- 
ceived by Laban? How many years did he first serve Laban for 
Rachel? How did Laban deceive him? How many more years 
did he serve before Rachel was given him? How many sons 
were born to Jacob in Haran ? Tell about Jacob's settlement with 
Laban. What preparations did Jacob make to meet Esau? Tell 
about the meeting of Jacob and Esau. Give the name of Jacob's 
daughter. Whom did Simeon and Levi slay at Shechem ? Where 
did Jacob go from Shechem, and what did he do there? Where 
was Benjamin born? What happened at the time of his birth? 
Why did Jacob go into Egypt? Where did he die? How old 
was he when he died? How long had he been in Egypt? Give 
the names of Joseph's sons. What did Jacob do just before his 
death? Where was he buried? 



105 



STUDY XV. THE EGYPTIAN BONDAGE- 
JOSEPH 

(Gen. 37: 1-Ex. 12:36) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The name "Joseph." The name "Joseph" signi- 
fies "increaser" or "adding." 

2. The date of Joseph's birth. Joseph was the 
son of Jacob and Rachel, and was born in Haran in 
the year 1746 B. C, Usher's chronology. 

3. The Shepherd Kings. The rulers, or Pharaohs, 
of Egypt, at the time that Joseph v/as sold into that 
country, were the Shepherd Kings, or Hyksos. They 
were of the Semitic race and overthrew the old 
Egyptian empire about 1900 B. C. They were an 
enterprising dynasty and completely changed the 
conservative policy of the old empire. Under them, 
foreign conquests were undertaken, a canal was dug 
from the Nile at Bubastis to the Red Sea at Suez, 
the continent of Africa was circumnavigated, and 
navigators were dispatched to determine the source 
of the Nile. Shepherds were also welcomed into 
the country from Asia, and this accounts for the 
warm reception given Jacob and his sons. 

4. The Pharaoh of the oppression. The Pharaoh 
of the oppression is supposed to have been Rameses 
II., a warlike prince who was also noted for his 
great architectural projects. 

106 



THE EGYPTIAN BONDAGE— JOSEPH 

I. THE EGYPTIAN BONDAGE BEFORE THE 
DEATH OF JOSEPH 

I.Joseph sold (Gen. 37:1-36). Joseph was the 
special favorite of his father and was accordingly 
hated by his brothers. Three things conspired to 
arouse and intensify their jealousy: his complaint 
to Jacob of the evil deeds of the sons of Bilhah and 
Zilpah; a coat of many colors which his father had 
given him, and two dreams which he told his breth- 
ren, in one of which the sheaves which they bound 
made obeisance to the sheaves which he bound, and, 
in the other, the sun, moon and eleven stars made 
obeisance to him. As his brethren were feeding the 
flocks of their father at Shechem, Joseph was sent 
to them. When they saw him coming, they con- 
spired against him and, taking from him his coat of 
many colors, threw him into a pit. But, as they ate 
their bread, a caravan of Ishmaelites passed by who 
were on their way to Egypt with spices and per- 
fumes, so, drawing Joseph up from the pit, they sold 
him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. 
They then slew a kid, and, dipping the coat of many 
colors into its blood, they took it to Jacob, who was 
thus led to believe that his son had been devoured 
by a wild beast. The Ishmaelites, in turn, sold 
Joseph to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard. 

2. Joseph tried (Gen. 39: 1-23). After Joseph had 
been sold to Potiphar, he became overseer in his house, 
and the Lord blessed the Eg}^ptian's house for his sake. 
But, as Joseph was a goodly person and well favored, 
Potiphar's wife loved him. As day after day he re- 
jected her blandishments, she became intensely jealous 

107 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



and laid a plan to ruin him in the eyes of his master. 
So, as he was with her one day, she caught his garment 
and carried it to Potiphar with the story that Joseph 
had greatly offended her. For this Potiphar thrust 
him into the prison where the king's prisoners were 
bound. But so favorable did he become in the eyes 
of the keeper, that he was given charge over all the 
other prisoners. 

3. Joseph interprets dreams (Gen. 40:1-41:38). 
After these things, the butler and baker of Pharaoh 
offended their lord and he thrust them into the prison 
with Joseph. While there they each dreamed a 
dream which made them very sad. Joseph, observ- 
ing their sadness, inquired the cause of the same. 
He was told that each had dreamed a dream, but 
that there was no interpreter at hand. Joseph then 
commanded each to tell his dream, which he did and 
Joseph interpreted it. The butler dreamed that there 
was a vine of three branches with clusters of ripe 
grapes, that he had Pharaoh's cup in his hand, and 
that he pressed the juice of the clusters into the cup 
and Pharaoh did drink. This Joseph interpreted to 
mean that in three days the butler would be rein- 
stated by Pharaoh. The baker dreamed that he had 
three white baskets on his head, the uppermost filled 
with bake-meats for Pharaoh, and that the birds came 
and ate the food out of the basket. This Joseph in- 
terpreted to mean that in three days Pharaoh would 
take the baker and hang him to a tree. Both of these 
interpretations were fulfilled. At the expiration of 
two years, Pharaoh dreamed that, as he stood by the 
river, seven well-favored and fat-fleshed kine came up 
out of the river and fed in a meadow. These were 

108 



THE EGYPTIAN BONDAGE— JOSEPH 

followed by seven others, ill-favored and lean-fleshed, 
which devoured the seven that went before. The 
same night he dreamed another dream, in which seven 
ears of corn, rank and good, grew upon one stalk. 
After these, seven ears blasted with the east wind 
sprang up and devoured them. When Pharaoh 
awoke, he was deeply troubled, and, calling the wise 
men of Egypt, he told them his dreams, but not one 
was able to interpret them. His butler then told him 
of Joseph, and he was sent for. Being told the 
dreams, he replied that they signified that there were 
to come seven years of plenty, followed by seven 
years of famine. 

4. Joseph exalted (Gen. 41 : 39-57). When Pharaoh 
heard the interpretation of his dreams by Joseph, he 
was deeply impressed that the Spirit of God was in 
him, and he made Joseph the second ruler in the 
kingdom and gave him authority to prepare for the 
coming famine. This Joseph did, gathering up in the 
seven plenteous years the surplus food throughout 
the land and laying it up in the cities, so that, when 
the seven years of famine came and the people were 
famishing, they came to Joseph and he opened the 
storehouses and sold them food. Joseph was thirty 
years of age when he became Pharaoh's governor, 
and Pharaoh changed his name to Zaphnath-paaneah 
and gave him Asenath, daughter of Potipherah, priest 
of On, to wife. By her he had two sons, Manasseh 
and Ephraim. 

5. Joseph meets his brethren (Gen. 42: 1-26). The 
famine affected other lands besides Egypt, and Jacob 
sent his ten eldest sons down into Egypt to buy corn. 
When the brethren came to Joseph, he inquired of 

109 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



them their country, and when they replied that it 
was Canaan, he accused them of being spies who had 
come to spy out the nakedness of the land. This 
they vehemently denied and told Joseph that origi- 
nally there were twelve brothers, one of whom was 
with their father and the other was not. Joseph then 
accused them a second time of being spies and told 
them that they would not be permitted to return to 
Canaan until he had seen their brother. He then 
put them into prison, but, at the expiration of three 
days, they were released, their sacks were filled with 
corn and they were permitted to return to their 
father, excepting Simeon, who was retained as a hos- 
tage until Benjamin should be brought down to 
Joseph. 

6. Joseph's brethren return to Canaan (Gen. 42: 
27-43: 14). After they had departed, one of them, on 
opening his sack for corn to feed his beast, espied 
the money which he had paid for it. When he called 
the attention of his brethren to it, they were sore 
afraid and exclaimed : "What is this that God hath 
done unto us?" Arriving in Canaan, they told their 
father all that had been done to them and the de- 
mand that Joseph had made. As Jacob heard it, he 
\Y2iS overcome with grief and exclaimed: "Me have 
ye bereaved of my children : Joseph Is not, and 
Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away." 
Then Reuben spoke to his father and said: "Slay my 
two sons, if I bring him not to thee again." But 
Jacob at first refused to let Benjamin go, and it was 
only after the famine had become more severe, and 
they began to want for food, that he gave his consent. 

7. Joseph's brethren go into Egypt a second time 

110 



THE EGYPTIAN BONDAGE— JOSEPH 

(Gen. 43:15-34). The brethren then, taking the 
money which they had found in their sacks and the 
same amount besides, with Benjamin, went down into 
Egypt and stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw 
Benjamin, he gave orders to the ruler of his house 
to prepare for them a feast. This made the brethren 
fearful, for they thought that he was laying a plan 
to entrap them and make them bondsmen. So they 
went to the steward of Joseph and explained how 
that they had found the money which they had paid 
for their corn in their sacks and that they had 
brought it to him again. The steward of Joseph de- 
clared that God had given their treasures into their 
hands, and, bringing out Simeon, he presented him 
to them. When the feast was prepared, Joseph sent 
out to his brethren messes from his own table, but 
to Benjamin he sent out five times as much as to 
the rest, and they drank and were merry with him. 
8. Joseph reveals his identity to his brethren (Gen. 
44 : 1-45 : 24) . As the brethren were about to return 
to their father, Joseph commanded his steward to fill 
their sacks with food, put their money in their sacks 
and, in addition, Joseph's silver cup in the sack of 
Benjamin. When this was done and the brethren 
had departed, Joseph sent his steward after them, 
who accused them of returning evil for good. This 
they emphatically denied, but when the silver cup 
was found in the sack of Benjamin, he brought them 
back with him. Coming into Joseph's presence, they 
fell down before him with protestations of innocence, 
but Joseph dismissed them with the exception of 
Benjamin, who, he declared, should be his servant. 

But the sons of Jacob refused to depart, further pro- 
8 111 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



tested their innocence, told him of the great sorrow 
it would bring to their father if Benjamin did not re- 
turn, and importunated him for Benjamin's release. 
With this, Joseph could not restrain himself, and, 
dismissing his servants, he wept aloud and made him- 
self known to his brethren. He told them not to be 
grieved that they had sold him into Egypt, quieted 
their fears, and commanded them to hasten to their 
father and bring him and their families down into the 
land of Goshen. Then, giving them provisions, rai- 
ment and wagons, he sent them away. 

9. Jacob is brought into Egypt (Gen. 45:25-49: 
33). When the brethren came to their father and 
told him that they had seen Joseph, he at first 
doubted, but when he had seen the wagons which 
Joseph had sent to convey him and his family into 
Egypt, his spirit revived and he believed and con- 
sented to go. Upon entering Egypt, Joseph told 
Pharaoh that they were shepherds, and they were 
permitted to settle in the land of Goshen. 

10. Joseph's death (Gen. 50:22-26). Joseph died 
in Egypt at the age of 110 years, having seen Ephra- 
im's children of the third generation. After his 
death, he was embalmed and put in a coffin, and sub- 
sequently his bones were carried back to Canaan, 
where they found a resting-place at Shechem. 

II. THE EGYPTIAN BONDAGE AFTER THE 
DEATH OF JOSEPH 

1. The oppression (Ex. 1:1-22). After the death 
of Joseph, the children of Israel increased rapidly 
and filled the land of Goshen under the paternal reign 
of the Hyksos kings. But, about 1525 B, C, these 

112 



THE EGYPTIAN BONDAGE— JOSEPH 

rulers were overthrown by the Theban prince Amosis, 
who headed a new dynasty, which was hostile to the 
descendants of Jacob. This hostility was probably 
due to their loyalty to the preceding dynasty. Among 
the edicts which were issued by the new Pharaoh 
against the Israelites was one that the Hebrew mid- 
wives should kill the male children of Hebrew parents 
at the time of their birth. Furthermore, taskmasters 
were set over the children of Israel, and they were 
compelled to build the treasure-cities of Pithom and 
Raamses and perform other bitter and rigorous labors. 
2. The birth of Moses (Ex. 2:1-10). Although 
Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill the 
male children of Israel, they feared God and saved 
them alive, whereupon the king commanded that the 
males should be thrown into the river. Among the 
Hebrews were a man and his wife by the names of 
Amram and Jochebed, of the tribe of Levi. The 
w^oman bore a son and hid him for three months, but, 
being unable to conceal him longer, she made an ark 
of bulrushes, slime and pitch, and, putting the child 
in this ark, she laid it among the flags by the river's 
brink, leaving her daughter, Miriam, near at hand to 
watch what was done with the babe. The daughter 
of Pharaoh, coming down to the river to bathe and 
finding the ark, had compassion on the child, and 
when his sister, who was near at hand, inquired if 
she should go and call a nurse from among the 
Hebrew women, she was told to do so, and, running, 
she brought the child's mother. The child grew and 
was brought to Pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him 
and gave him the name of "Moses," which means 
"drawn out of the water." 

113 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



3. Moses flees to Midian (Ex. 2:11-25). Moses 
grew to manhood, and one day, espying an Egyptian 
beating one of his countrymen, slew him. The next 
day he saw two of his own brethren striving together, 
and when he asked the aggressor why he smote his 
brother, he retorted: "Who made thee a prince and a 
judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou 
killedst the Egyptian?" Hearing this, Moses knew 
that his deed was known, and feared greatly. When 
the deed came to the ears of Pharaoh, he sought to 
slay Moses, but he fled into the land of Midian and 
dwelt with Reuel,^ a priest of that land, who gave him 
his daughter, Zipporah, to be his wife. By her he 
had a son, Gershom. 

4. The call of Moses (Ex. 3:1-4:18). Moses 
tended the flocks of his father-in-law and came to 
Mount Horeb. Here the angel of the Lord appeared to 
him in a flaming bush and commanded him to remove 
his shoes from off his feet, telling him that the place 
whereon he stood was holy ground. The Lord also 
told him that He had seen the affliction of his people ; 
that He purposed to bring them into their own land, 
and that Moses should return and perform this work. 
To this, Moses made two objections : First, the un- 
belief of the people, and, second, his own lack of 
eloquence. To the first the Lord replied with two 
miracles, changing Moses' rod into a serpent and 
back again into a rod, and striking his hand with 
leprosy and cleansing it again. To the second ob- 
jection the Lord replied by promising him Aaron as 
a spokesman. 



^ Another name for the man Jethro. 
114 



THE EGYPTIAN BONDAGE— JOSEPH 

5. Moses' return (Ex. 4:19-7:19). After this in- 
terview with the Lord, Moses returned to the house 
of Jethro, his father-in-law, and demanded that he 
release him so that he might go to his brethren. This 
was granted, and Moses, taking his family, returned 
into the land of Egypt. The Lord also revealed him- 
self to Aaron and commanded him to go into the wil- 
derness to meet his brother. This Aaron did, and 
Moses revealed to him all that the Lord had said. The 
two then went to Pharaoh and demanded that he let 
the children of Israel go a three days' journey into the 
wilderness that they might hold a feast. This Pharaoh 
refused, and gave orders to his taskmasters to with- 
draw the straw with which the Israelites made bricks, 
but not to reduce the tale of bricks each day. Failing 
in their interview with Pharaoh, Moses and Aaron 
were addressed by the Lord, who said : "Now shalt 
thou see what I will do to Pharaoh : for with a strong 
hand shall he drive them out of his land.'* The two 
then went into Pharaoh's presence again, and, when 
he demanded a sign, Aaron threw down his rod, 
which became a serpent. Then Pharaoh called in the 
sorcerers of Egypt, and when they threw down their 
rods, they, too, became serpents, but Aaron's rod 
swallowed them up. 

6. The ten plagues (Ex. 7:20-12:36). Following 
this, the Lord sent ten plagues upon the land. With 
each plague, except the last, Pharaoh's heart was 
hardened^ and he would not permit Israel to depart 



1 In Ex. 4:21, and elsewhere, God is said to harden Pharaoh's heart, 
and in Ex. 8: 15, and elsewhere, Pharaoh is said to harden his own heart. 
The discrepancy is only apparent, however, for God was only the occasion 
of this condition, while Pharaoh was the cause of it. 

115 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



out of the land. The ten plagues were as follows: (1) 
The waters of Egypt were turned into blood; (2) 
frogs covered the land; (3) the dust of the land be- 
came lice; (4) a grievous swarm of flies; (5) a 
grievous murrain upon the flocks and herds; (6) 
blains upon man and beast; (7) hail sent upon the en- 
tire land; (8) a scourge of locusts; (9) darkness upon 
the land; (10) the smiting of the firstborn. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the general outline of this study. Give the meaning of 
the name "Joseph." Give the date of Joseph's birth. Who were 
the Shepherd Kings? Who was the Pharaoh of the oppression? 
Give three reasons for Joseph not being on good terms with his 
brethren. To whom was Joseph first sold? What did Jacob be- 
lieve had happened to him? To whom did the Ishmaelites sell 
Joseph? What difficulty did Joseph have with Potiphar's wife? 
What did Potiphar do ? What two servants of Pharaoh were im- 
prisoned with Joseph? Give the dream of each and its sig- 
nificance. How did Joseph come to the attention of Pharaoh? 
Give Pharaoh's dreams and their significance. What position was 
Joseph called to fill in Egypt? What did Joseph do after his ex- 
altation? Give the name of Joseph's wife. Name his two sons. 
How did Joseph's brethren happen to go down into Egypt? What 
did Joseph first accuse them of being? Whom did Joseph demand 
that they should bring down to him? Whom did he hold as a 
hostage? What did his brethren find in their sacks besides the 
grain? How did Jacob feel in regard to letting Benjamin return 
with them? Why did he let him go at last? What did Joseph 
prepare for them upon their return? When they had departed, 
what was found in Benjamin's sack? What did Joseph say should 
be done with Benjamin? What was the feeling manifested when 
Joseph revealed his identity? What did his brethren do after 
this? How old was Joseph when he died? What was done with 
him after his death? Where was he finally buried? What hap- 
pened to the Hyksos after the death of Joseph? Why were the 
new Pharaohs hostile to the children of Israel? What were the 

116 



THE EGYPTIAN BONDAGE— JOSEPH 

Hebrew midwives commanded to do? Give the name of one 
child that escaped. Give the circumstances of his deliverance. 
Give the meaning of his name. Give the names of his father, 
mother and sister. Whom did Moses kill, and why? Where did 
Moses flee? W'hat man did Moses meet in Midian? Give the 
names of Moses' wife and son. Where did the Lord appear to 
Moses? What two objections did Moses make to the divine call? 
How did God answer these objections? W^hat did Moses and 
Aaron demand of Pharaoh? W^hat did Pharaoh do? What did 
the Lord say? Name, in their order, the ten plagues, 



I 



I 



117 



STUDY XVI. THE EXODUS— MOSES 

(Ex. 12:29-Deut. 34:12) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. Moses. The life of Moses may be divided into 
three periods of forty years each: forty years in 
Egypt, forty years in Midian and forty years in the 
wilderness. We have already considered the events 
that occurred during the first two periods ; we shall 
now take up those that occurred during his last 
forty years. 

2. The Pharaoh of the exodus. The Pharaoh of 
the exodus was Menephthah, the son and successor 
of Rameses II. 

3. The date of the exodus. The exodus from 
Egypt occurred in the year 1491, and the wanderings 
in the wilderness continued for forty years, or till 
1451 B. C, Usher's chronology. 

4. The number of the Israelites. Of the people 
who went out of Egypt, there were six hundred thou- 
sand men, besides children and a mixed multitude. 

I. FROM EGYPT TO MOUNT SINAI 

1. Preparations for the exodus (Ex. 12:29-36). 
The children of Israel were at Raamses in Egypt, 
and, when the tenth plague occurred, Pharaoh and 
the Egyptians urged Moses and his people to leave 
the land. The people took their dough before it was 

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119 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



leavened and their kneading-troughs upon their 
shoulders, and with jewels of silver and gold and 
raiment, which they borrowed from the Egyptians, 
they, with their fiocks and herds, left Raamses and 
went to Succoth. 

2. The Passover instituted (Ex. 12:37-13:19). 
When the Lord was about to send the tenth plague 
upon the Egyptians, the children of Israel were com- 
manded to take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the 
blood of a lamb and smear the blood upon the lintels 
and side-posts of each house, with the promise that, 
if such were done, the destroying angel would pass 
over and spare their firstborn. Therefore, when Israel 
had left Raamses and had come to Succoth, the ordi- 
nance of the Passover was instituted in commemora- 
tion of this event, and from that time forth the first- 
born of both man and beast were required to be 
sanctified unto the Lord. 

3. The pillar and cloud (Ex. 13:20-22). From 
Succoth the Israelites journeyed to Etham, the Lord 
going before them in a cloud by day and a pillar of 
fire by night. These tokens of the divine presence and 
leadership continued with Israel throughout the en- 
tire wilderness journey. 

4. The Egyptian pursuit (Ex. 14: 1-14). The chil- 
dren of Israel had hardly left the land of their bond- 
age before Pharaoh's heart was hardened and he re- 
pented of letting them go. Gathering together a 
force of six hundred chariots, with an army of horse- 
men and foot soldiers, he began pursuit. When the 
children of Israel saw the Egyptians coming, they 
were greatly frightened, and complained against 
Moses. But Moses replied : 'Tear ye not, stand still, 

120 



THE EXODUS— MO^ES 



and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show 
to you to-day." 

5. Israel crosses the Red Sea (Ex. 14:15-22). 
Israel was encamped at this time at Pi-hahiroth, be- 
tween Migdol and the sea, and the Lord said to 
Moses: "Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto 
the children of Israel, that they go forward." Moses 
was then commanded to lift up his rod over the sea, 
with the promise that the waters should divide so 
that Israel might go over dry-shod. Moses obeyed, 
and the sea was made to go back by a strong east 
wind, and the angel of the Lord, with the cloud, went 
from before them and stood between th^m and the 
Egyptians, and so Israel crossed the Red Sea. 

6. The destruction of the Egyptians (Ex. 14:23- 
31). The Egyptians attempted to follow the Israel- 
ites, but the Lord took oil their chariot-wheels so 
that the chariots pulled heavily, which greatly af- 
frighted them and they declared that the Lord fought 
with Israel. Moses was then commanded to lift his 
rod again over the sea, and the waters came together 
and the Egyptians were drowned. 

7. Israel sings a song of deliverance (Ex. 15 : 1-21). 
Upon the destruction of their enemies, Israel sang a 
song of triumph, and Miriam, the prophetess, sister 
of Moses and Aaron, with the women, took timbrels 
and danced for joy. 

8. The waters of Marah made sweet (Ex. 15:22- 
26). From the Red Sea, Moses led the children of 
Israel on a three days' journey into the wilderness of 
Shur, but found no water. When they came to 
Marah, they found water, but it was bitter, so the 
Lord commanded Moses to take a branch from a cer- 

121 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



tain tree and throw it into the water, which he did 
and the water became sweet. Then Moses declared 
to Israel that if they would observe the command- 
ments of God, none of the diseases that came upon 
the Egyptians would fall upon them. 

9. Israel at Elim (Ex. 15:27). From Marah, Is- 
rael journeyed to Elim, where there were twelve wells 
and seventy palm-trees, and encamped there. 

10. The giving of the manna (Ex. 16: 1-22). From 
Elim, Israel went into the wilderness of Sin, where 
they murmured against Moses, complaining that it 
would have been better for them to have remained in 
Egypt than to perish in the wilderness from hunger. 
Then the Lord told Moses that He would rain bread 
from heaven six days out of the week, that Israel 
should gather it each day, and that on the sixth she 
should gather sufficient to last over the seventh. 
This bread was called "manna" and came down with 
the dew, and when the dew was gone, it lay upon 
the ground like hoarfrost. The Lord also sent quails 
into the camp that Israel might have meat. 

11. The test sabbath (Ex. 16:23-36).' In connec- 
tion with the giving of manna, the Lord instituted a 
test sabbath and required that the people should re- 
frain from gathering manna on the seventh day that 
He might ''prove them, whether they would walk in 
my [His] law or no" (Ex. 16:4). Moses also com- 
manded Aaron to gather a pot of this food to preserve 
it for future generations. This was afterwards placed 
in the ark of the covenant. 



^ This sabbath was not the sabbath of the Decalogue, but a test sab* 
bath to prove Israel, to ascertain whether or not they would walk in the 
law when that was given. 

122 



THE EXODUS— MOSES 



12. The rock of Horeb smitten (Ex. 17:1-7). 
From the wilderness of Sin the Lord led the people 
to Rephidim, but there was no water there and they 
complained against Moses. Moses then besought the 
Lord, who commanded him to take his rod and smite 
the rock of Horeb. This Moses did and the water 
gushed out. 

13. Israel's conflict with Amalek (Ex. 17:8-16). 
The children of Israel found enemies in the Amalek- 
ites at Rephidim. So Moses commanded Joshua to 
take a force and go out and fight them. Joshua did 
this, and, while the battle was in progress, Moses 
took Aaron and Hur and went to the summit of a 
hill, where he lifted up his rod and Israel prevailed, 
but, when he let down his i-od, Amalek prevailed. 
So Aaron and Hur took a stone, and, seating Moses 
thereon, held up his hands until the going down of 
the sun, when Amalek was discomfited. In remem- 
brance of this victory, Moses erected an altar which 
he called Jehovah-nissi. 

14. The visit of Jethro (Ex. 18:1-27). When 
Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard all that the Lord 
had done for Israel, he came down to Horeb to visit 
Moses. Here, out of thankfulness for what had oc- 
curred, he took a burnt-offering and offered it before 
the Lord, after which Aaron and the elders of Israel 
came and ate bread with him. As Moses sat to 
judge Israel, Jethro complained that the task was 
too arduous for him and advised that he select 
able men to be rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties 
and tens. Moses did this, deciding only the most 
difficult cases himself. Jethro then returned to his 
own land. 

123 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



II. FROM MOUNT SINAI TO KADESH- 
BARNEA 

1. Preparations for the law (Ex. 19:1-20). From 
Rephidim the children of Israel came into the wilder- 
ness of Sinai. Here the Lord promised them that if 
they would obey His voice and keep His covenant, 
they should be a kingdom of priests. To this the 
people agreed. Then the Lord commanded Moses to 
sanctify them for two days, with the promise that 
upon the third He would come down in a cloud 
upon Mount Sinai. The Lord also prescribed that 
Moses should set bounds round about Sinai, and that 
no one should go into the mount or touch the border 
of it under penalty of death. On the morning of the 
third day there were thundering and lightning, and a 
dark cloud rested upon the mountain out of which 
came the voice of a trumpet exceedingly loud. At 
this the children of Israel assembled around the base 
of the mount, and Moses was commanded to ascend 
to its summit. 

2. Moses receives the law (Ex. 19:21-34:35). To 
be brief, there was a threefold giving of the law : 

(1) Orally. When Moses first went into Mount 
Sinai, he received from the lips of the Lord, Him- 
self, the Ten Commandments,^ certain "judgments" 



* The Ten Commandments were never given to the Gentiles, but to a 
race of people who had been in the land of Egypt and the house of bondage 
(Ex. 20:2; Deut. 5:6). They constituted the covenant (Deut. 4:13) that 
was made with that people, and that people alone (Deut. 5:2, 3), 
and as this was afterwards abolished (2 Cor. 3:7-11; Eph. 2:14-18; Col. 
2: 14-17), and the new covenant substituted in its place (Jer. 31: 31-34; Gal. 
4:22-31; Heb. 8:7-13), we are under no obligations to observe it, only so 
far as its requirements have been adopted into the latter. As the Sabbath 
has nowhere been so incorporated, Christians are in no sense obligated to 
keep it. 

124 



THE EXODUS— MOSES 



which related to the relations between Hebrew and 
Hebrew, directions for keeping the three annual feasts 
and instructions for the conquest of Canaan. Moses 
went down and communicated these to Israel, and 
they answered with one voice : "All the words which 
the Lord hath said will we do." 

(2) The first tables of stone. Moses then went 
into the mount a second time and received the Ten 
Commandments written on two tables of stone by the 
finger of God, with certain instructions concerning the 
building of the Tabernacle, the institution of the 
priesthood, the offering of sacrifices, etc. But, as 
he was in the mount for forty days and forty nights, 
the Israelites supposed him dead and, at the com- 
mand of Aaron, took off their golden ornaments and 
out of them fashioned a golden calf, which they fell 
down before and worshiped. As Moses came down 
from the mount, he heard the shouting, and, ascertain- 
ing the cause, became very angry, and, throwing the 
tables down, broke them. 

(3) The second tables of stone. When Moses had 
condemned the people for their sins and had inter- 
ceded with God in their behalf, he was commanded to 
hew out other tables of stone and bring them into 
the mount. The Lord then rewrote* on these tables 
the words of the covenant, even the Ten Command- 
ments. At this time, Moses was in the mount for 
forty days and forty nights, with neither food nor 
drink, and, when he returned to the people, his face 



1 Compare Ex. 34: 27, 28 with Deut. 10: 1-4. This seeming discrepancy 
is explained by the fact that Moses wrote in the book of the law the cere- 
monial and judicial parts, while God wrote upon the tablets the moral part 
contained in the Ten Commandments. 

125 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



shone so that it was necessary to cover it with a veil. 

3. The erection of the Tabernacle (Ex. 35:4-40: 
38). While he was in the mount, Moses received full 
instructions from Jehovah regarding the construction 
of the Tabernacle and the institution of divine wor- 
ship. Then, having received the law, he set himself 
immediately to the task. The materials, which con- 
sisted of cloths of various kinds, skins, gold, silver, 
brass, oil, etc., were provided by the offerings of the 
people. The builder of the Tabernacle was Bezaleel, 
of the tribe of Judah, who was assisted by Aholiab, 
of the tribe of Dan. The priests, who were to offi- 
ciate in the Tabernacle, were Aaron, the high priest, 
assisted by his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ith- 
amar. 

4. The destruction of Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10: 
1-7). After the Tabernacle worship had been estab- 
lished, Nadab and Abihu, two of the sons of Aaron, 
came before the Lord with strange fire in their cen- 
sers of incense, for which they were immediately 
destroyed by fire that went out from the Lord's 
presence. 

5. The numbering of Israel (Num. 1:1-2:34). 
While the children of Israel were yet in the wilder- 
ness of Sinai, the Lord commanded Moses to take 
a census of all the males over twenty years of age. 
He was assisted in this work by the heads of the 
twelve tribes. According to this census, there were 
603,550 men able to bear arms, omitting those of the 
tribe of Levi, whose exclusive duty was the service of 
the sanctuary. The Lord also commanded Moses to 
arrange the tribes so that they would encamp around 
the Tabernacle in the following order: On the east, 

126 



THE EXODUS— MOSES 



Judah, Issachar and Zebulun; on the south, Reuben, 
Simeon and Gad; on the west, Ephraim, Manasseh 
and Benjamin, and on the north, Dan, Asher and 
Naphtali. 

6. The march to Kadesh-barnea (Num. 10:11-12: 
16). The children of Israel journeyed from Sinai to 
Kadesh-barnea. On the way a number of events oc- 
curred which it will be necessary to mention only 
briefly : 

After leaving Sinai, the cloud rested, first, at 
Paran. Here Moses gave an urgent invitation to 
Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, his father- 
in-law, to join the host of Israel, but this invitation 
was refused (Num. 10:29, 30). 

At Taberah the people complained, and the Lord 
sent fire among them which consumed those in the 
uttermost parts of the camp. Moses, at the solici- 
tation of the people, prayed to the Lord and the fire 
was quenched (Num. 11:1-3). 

The children of Israel began to lust for the fish 
and vegetables of Egypt and to complain of the 
manna. Moses, hearing these murmurings, went to 
the Lord with the complaint that He had laid the 
whole burden upon him and had not provided meat 
for the people, and demanded that if He intended 
to continue to deal so with him to kill him out- 
right. The Lord then told him to select seventy of 
the elders and bring them to the Tabernacle of the 
congregation, and He would put the Spirit upon 
them and they should help bear the burden (Num. 
11:4-25). 

The Lord then sent forth a wind from the sea 
which brought quails into the camp. These flew two 

9 127 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



cubits above the ground ' and for two days were 
gathered up. But, as the children of Israel feasted 
upon them, the Lord smote them with a great plague 
so that many died (Num. 11:31-35). 

The anger of the Lord was kindled against Aaron 
and Miriam because they spoke against Moses for 
marrying an Ethiopian woman, and Miriam was 
stricken with leprosy, but when Aaron petitioned 
Moses and he interceded for her, the Lord com- 
manded that she should be compelled to remain with- 
out the camp for seven days, at the expiration of 
which she was to be received again (Num. 12: 1-16). 

III. FROM KADESH-BARNEA TO NEBO 

1. The spies sent out (Num. 13: 1-33). The chil- 
dren of Israel now came to Kadesh-barnea, and Moses 
was commanded to select from each of the tribes a 
ruler who was to go and spy out the land of Canaan. 
The spies thus chosen went through the land from 
south to north, and returned, after forty days, with a 
large cluster of grapes from Eshcol, besides pome- 
granates and figs. All of the spies brought back a 
glowing report of the richness of the land, but ten 
of them declared that it was invincible. Only two, 
Caleb and Joshua, thought that the land could be 
conquered and the inhabitants driven out. 

2. The unbelief of Israel (Num. 14:1-45). When 
the people heard the report, they murmured against 
Moses and Aaron and said : "Would God that we had 
died in the land of Egypt ! or would God we had died 



^ This does not mean that the quails were three feet thick upon the 
ground, as infidels have sometimes tried to make out, but that they flew 
no more than three feet above the ground. 

128 



THE EXODUS— MOSES 



in this wilderness !" Hearing this, Joshua and Caleb 
rent their clothes and charged their brethren not to 
rebel against the Lord or fear the inhabitants of the 
land. But the people cried for them to be stoned, 
and the Lord said to Moses : ''I will smite them with 
the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of 
thee a greater nation and mightier than they." But, 
upon Moses' intercession, the Lord pardoned their 
complaints, but declared that not one of those who 
had murmured would be permitted to enter the land. 

3. The destruction o£ Korah, Dathan and Abiram 
(Num. 16: 1-50). Korah, Dathan and Abiram, with a 
company of princes, revolted against Moses and 
Aaron, charging them with assuming too much au- 
thority, and insisting that the entire congregation 
possessed the prerogatives of the priesthood.^ The 
day following, Moses put their claim to the test, and 
they were commanded to appear with fire in their 
censers before the door of the Tabernacle. The Lord 
then commanded Moses to separate the people from 
the rebels, after which He caused the earth to open 
and to swallow them alive, with all of their posses- 
sions. 

4. The budding of Aaron's rod (Num. 17:1-13). 
Each of the tribes was then commanded to take a rod 
and to lay it up in the Tabernacle of the congrega- 
tion, the Lord saying that the rod which He would 
choose should blossom. On the morrow, when Moses 



^ It was God's original intention that all the tribes should constitute a 
kingdom of priests (Ex. 19: 5, 6). But this intention was thwarted by the 
disobedience of Israel, and the sacerdotal office was confined wholly to the 
tribe of Levi. But, under the new covenant, God's purpose is fulfilled, 
and the entire church, not a part of it, constitutes the priesthood (1 Pet. 
2:5, 9). 

129 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



went into the Tabernacle, he found that Aaron's rod, 
for the tribe of Levi, had budded, blossomed and 
brought forth almonds. The Lord then told Moses 
that this rod was to be preserved as a witness 
against the rebels. When the people saw this, they 
exclaimed: "Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish." 
Aaron's rod was afterwards put in the ark of the 
covenant. 

5. The death of Miriam (Num. 20:1). Miriam 
died and was buried in the wilderness of Zin. 

6. The sin of Moses (Num. 20:2-13). The people 
thirsted in the wilderness of Zin and murmured 
against Moses and Aaron. The Lord then com- 
manded Moses to speak to a certain rock and the 
water would gush out. But, instead of speaking to 
the rock, Moses smote it twice, for which sin the 
Lord told him that he and Aaron should not enter 
the promised land. 

7. The Edomites refuse a passage to Israel (Num. 
20:14-22). Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to 
the king of Edom, asking permission to pass through 
his land on their way to Canaan. This the king of 
Edom refused, and the children of Israel journeyed 
to Mount Hor. 

8. The death of Aaron (Num. 20:23-29). By the 
command of the Lord, Moses took Aaron, with his 
son Eleazar, into Mount Hor, where, in the sight of 
the congregation, he stripped him of his priestly gar- 
ments, which he put upon Eleazar, and there Aaron 
died. 

9. The victory over the Canaanites (Num. 21 : 1- 
3). Arad the Canaanite, hearing that Israel came by 
the way of the spies, went out to fight them and took 

130 



THE EXODUS— MOSES 



some of them prisoners. But the IsraeUtes vowed a 
vow that if the Lord would deliver the Canaanites 
into their hands, they would utterly destroy them. 
So, turning upon them, they defeated and extermi- 
nated them and destroyed their cities. The name of 
the place was called Hormah. 

10. The brazen serpent (Num. 21:4-9). As the 
children of Israel journeyed from Mount Hor by the 
way of the Red Sea to compass the land of Edom, 
they became discouraged and again murmured against 
God. Because of their murmurings, the Lord sent 
fiery serpents among them and many were bitten 
and died. The people then repented, and Moses was 
directed to make a serpent of brass and erect it upon 
a pole in the camp, with the promise that whosoever 
looked upon it should live. 

11. The defeat of the Amorites (Num. 21:21-32). 
As the Israelites continued their journey around 
Edom, they requested permission of Sihon, king of 
the Amorites, to pass through his land. This was 
not only refused, but Sihon, gathering his forces 
together, went out and fought Israel at Jahaz, where 
he was decisively defeated. 

12. The defeat of Og, king of Bashan (Num. 21 : 
33-35). Og, king of Bashan, also went out against 
Israel, and met them in battle at Edrei. But the 
Lord told Moses to fear him not, and the children 
of Israel smote him and his host until they were 
all utterly destroyed. 

13. The opposition of Balak, king of the Moabites 
(Num. 22:1-24:25). Israel now came into the 
country of the Moabites and encamped in the plains 
of Moab. This greatly troubled Balak, the Moabite 

131 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



king, and he sent messengers to Balaam, the son of 
Beor, at Pethor in Mesopotamia, requesting him to 
come and curse Israel. Balaam consulted the Lord, 
and He told him not to return with them to curse 
Israel, for they were a blessed people. The mes- 
sengers then returned to Balak, but when they 
reported to him what Balaam had said, he was not 
satisfied, and sent more honorable messengers, who 
insisted that he return with them and offered him 
an honorable position, Balaam again consulted the 
Lord, who, in anger, told him to go with the mes- 
sengers, but to speak the word which He should 
say unto him. On the way, the ass upon which he 
rode, meeting an angel, turned aside and, when 
smitten by Balaam, miraculously spoke to him. 
Coming to Balak, Balaam was brought out to curse 
Israel, but, instead, he blessed them in prophecies 
spoken from the high places of Baal, the summit 
of Mount Pisgah, and from Peor. 

14. The immoral and idolatrous relations of the 
Israelites with the Moabites and Midianites (Num. 
25:1-18). The children of Israel now dwelt at 
Shittim and began to enter into immoral and idola- 
trous relations with their Moabite and Midianite 
neighbors. Because of this, the Lord's anger was 
kindled against Israel, and He commanded Moses to 
slay those who were guilty of sin. The number that 
fell by the sword and the plague were twenty-four thou- 
sand. Afterwards (Num. 31 : 1-54) the children of 
Israel, by divine command, smote Midian, slew her 
kings, took her women and children captive, burned 
her cities and despoiled her possessions. 

15. The renumbering of Israel (Num. 26:1-65). 

132 



THE EXODUS— MOSES 



After this, the Lord ordered Moses to take a new 
census of Israel, by which it was ascertained that 
there were 601,730 men over twenty years of age, 
who were able to bear arms. 

16. The call of Joshua (Num. 27:15-23). Moses 
went to the Lord and asked Him to appoint his 
successor. He was commanded to lay his hands 
upon Joshua, the son of Nun, and to bring him 
before Eleazar, the high priest, and was told that 
Joshua should go in and out before the children of 
Israel as his successor. 

17. Preparations for entering the land of Canaan 
(Num. 28:1-Deut. 33:29). The preparations for 
entering the land of Canaan consisted in a restate- 
ment of the law, counsels to the priests, appoint- 
ment of the cities of refuge, etc. 

18. The vision and death of Moses (Deut. 34: 
1-8). The last act of Moses' life was his going up 
to the summit of Mount Nebo, where the Lord 
showed him the promised land, after which he died, 
at the age of 120 years. The children of Israel 
mourned for him thirty days. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the general outline of this study. Give the three periods 
of Moses' life. Who was the Pharaoh of the exodus? Give the 
date of the exodus. How many Israelites went out of Egypt? 
Give the preparations that were made for the exodus. Where 
was the Passover instituted? What did it commemorate? What 
did the pillar and the cloud signify? How many chariots did 
Pharaoh have when he pursued Israel? Tell about Israel cross- 
ing the Red Sea. How were the waters of Marah made sweet? 
Tell about the falling of the manna. Why was the test sabbath 
instituted? How did Moses get water out of the rock at Horeb? 

133 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Describe Israel's conflict with Amalek at Rephidim. Tell about 
the visit of Jethro. What preparations was Moses commanded 
to make for the reception of the law? How many times did 
the Lord give the Ten Commandments to Moses and give the 
circumstances of each? Who were constituted priests? Who 
offered strange fire before the Lord and what happened to them? 
At the second numbering of Israel, how many fighting men were 
there found to be? How were the tribes to encamp around the 
Tabernacle? What did the Lord do to Miriam, and why? How 
many spies were sent out at Kadesh-barnea ? Give their diverse 
reports. How did Israel receive their reports? What happened 
to Korah, Dathan and Abiram, and why? Tell about the budding 
of Aaron's rod. Where did Miriam die? What sin did Moses 
commit in the wilderness of Zin ? What request did Moses make 
of the Edomites? What Canaanite king did Israel defeat? 
Where did Aaron die? Give the circumstances of the erection 
of the brazen serpent in the camp of Israel. What Amoritish 
king did Israel defeat? What other king did they defeat? Tell 
about the opposition of Balak. What two relations did Israel 
have with the Moabites? Give the number of fighting men at 
the time of the third census of Israel. Who was chosen as Moses' 
successor? What preparations were made for entering the land 
of Canaan? Where did Moses die and how old was he? 



134 



STUDY XVII. THE CONQUEST OF 
CANAAN— JOSHUA 

(Book of Joshua) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. Joshua. Joshua was the son of Nun and of 
the tribe of Ephraim. His name signifies "savior," 
and he was one of the faithful companions of Moses 
during the exodus. He first came into notice as the 
commander of the IsraeHtes in their battle with the 
Amalekites at Rephidim, and was afterwards one of 
the spies sent out at Kadesh-barnea. He was eighty- 
four years of age at the time that he entered Canaan. 

2, The date of the conquest. The conquest of 
Canaan lay between 1451 and 1427 B. C, a period of 
twenty-four years. 

3- The inhabitants of Canaan. The inhabitants of 
the land of Canaan at this time were known as 
Canaanites, and were divided into a number of 
tribes; as, the Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girga- 
shites, Amorites and Jebusites. 

I. SPECIAL PREPARATIONS FOR THE CON- 
QUEST 

1 Joshua commissioned (Josh. 1 : 1-9). We have 
already seen that Joshua was appointed successor 
of Moses by Jehovah at the suggestion of that leader 
that such a successor be appointed. Now that Moses 
is dead, the Lord commissions him to lead his 

135 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



people, promising him victory if he is courageous 
and observes the law. 

2. Joshua takes command (Josh. 1:10-18). Fol- 
lowing the reception of his commission, Joshua took 
command of the host of Israel. He first gave orders 
to the officers to pass through the army and instruct 
the people to prepare food, telling them that in three 
days they would cross the Jordan. He then told 
the Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manas- 
seh, that, although land had been allotted to them 
on the east of Jordan, they would be expected to 
cross the river and assist their brethren in driving 
out the inhabitants of the land. 

3. The two spies sent out (Josh. 2: 1-24). Joshua 
next sent two spies to view the land in the vicinity 
of Jericho. These men crossed the Jordan and 
lodged at the house of a woman by the name of 
Rahab. It was told the king of Jericho that these 
men were spies, and he sent to Rahab and demanded 
that they be given up. But this Rahab did not do, 
telling those who made the demand that they had 
gone out about the time of the shutting of the 
gate. She then took the spies to the roof of her 
house and hid them with the stalks of flax that were 
on the roof. When their pursuers were gone, she 
told them of the fears of the people, and exacted a 
promise from them that, when Jericho was taken, 
she and her father's house should be spared. This 
promise was made and confirmed with an oath, and 
she then let them down from the window with a 
scarlet cord to the outside of the city wall, the 
understanding being that this cord bound in the 
window should be the sign by which the Israelites 

136 



The 
CONQUEST 

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137 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



might know where she dwelt. The spies then made 
their way to Joshua and revealed to him the weak- 
ness of the place and the fears of its inhabitants. 

4. The passage of the Jordan (Josh. 3:1-17). 
When Joshua heard the report of the spies, he led 
Israel from Shittim, where they had been encamped, 
to the east bank of the Jordan, and commanded them 
to sanctify themselves for the work before them. 
The following day Israel began to cross the Jordan. 
The priests were in the lead, bearing the ark of the 
covenant, and when their feet touched the waters, 
they divided and, the priests stepping aside, Israel 
went over dry-shod and encamped at Gilgal. By 
this Israel was to know that God would drive their 
enemies, the Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, 
Amorites and Jebusites, out of the land. 

5. Israel at Gilgal (Josh. 4:1-5:15). After the 
children of Israel had come up safely from the 
Jordan, the Lord commanded Joshua to appoint 
twelve men to take from the bed of the river twelve 
stones and to erect them as a memorial at Gilgal, 
and also to take twelve other stones and set them 
up for a memorial in the midst of Jordan. The 
Lord then commanded Joshua to circumcise the 
children of Israel, following which they observed 
the Passover and ate of the old corn of the land, 
with which the manna ceased to fall from heaven. 
Here, also, Joshua had revealed to him the Captain 
of the host of the Lord, who appeared as a man 
with a drawn sword. When Joshua fell down to 
worship him, the angel said: "Loose thy shoe from 
off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is 
holy." 

138 



THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN— JOSHUA 

II. THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN 

1. The conquest of Jericho (Josh. 6: 1-27). When 
the inhabitants of Jericho saw that Israel had crossed 
the Jordan, they shut the gates of the city so that 
no one was allowed to go out or come in. Then the 
Lord commanded Joshua to arrange his host with a 
company of armed men and seven priests with 
trumpets at its head, followed by the ark. Thus 
arranged, the host was to march round the city once 
each day for six days, the priests blowing the trump- 
ets. On the seventh day Israel was to march round 
the city seven times, and on the seventh round the 
trumpets were to be blown and the people were to 
shout, and the walls of the city were to fall. This 
was done, and Jericho fell before Joshua, who put 
the inhabitants to the sword, sparing only Rahab 
and her house. Among the things that, by divine 
command, were devoted to the Lord were the gold, 
silver and vessels of brass and iron, which were to 
come into the treasury of the Lord's house. 

2. The sin of Achan (Josh. 7:1-26). After the 
fall of Jericho, Joshua sent spies to Ai, who returned 
and reported that the whole host of Israel would 
not be required to take that city — only two or three 
thousand men. So Joshua dispatched the latter 
number, but they were defeated by the inhabitants 
of the place. When Joshua went to the Lord, He 
replied that Israel had been defeated because it had 
sinned and had taken of the spoils of Jericho, which 
belonged to the Lord, and had appropriated them 
to its own private use. Joshua was then commanded 
to sanctify the people, and was assured that there 

139 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



was an accursed thing in their midst which would 
have to be removed before they could be victorious 
over their enemies. He was told to bring the people 
before the Lord, and from them He selected the 
tribe of Judah as the guilty tribe, the family of 
Zarhites as the guilty family, the house of Zabdi as 
the guilty house, and from this He took Achan, the 
son of Carmi, as the guilty individual. When Achan 
was accused of his guilt, he admitted that he had 
taken "a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hun- 
dred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold," and 
that they were hid in the earth in his tent. Joshua 
sent messengers to his tent, and, when the stolen 
articles were found, Achan was taken, and with him 
his family, into the valley of Achor, where all Israel 
stoned him to death and burned his body with fire. 
They then raised over him a great pile of stones. 

3. The conquest of Ai (Josh. 8: 1-29). Following 
the stoning of Achan, Joshua was commanded to 
take his entire host and proceed against Ai. He was 
told that he should do unto this city and its king as 
he had done unto Jericho and its king, but that the 
spoils were to be kept by the children of Israel for 
themselves. Ai was taken by stratagem. Joshua 
made a feint upon it with a part of his force while 
another part lay in ambush between it and Bethel. 
Seeing Joshua's depleted force, the king of Ai at- 
tacked him and Joshua fell back, upon which the 
Lord commanded him to stretch out his spear against 
the city. Joshua did as he was commanded, and the 
force in ambush rushed into the city and set it on 
fire, while the force that was with him turned on 
their pursuers, who were thus crushed between the 

140 



I 



THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN— JOSHUA 

two divisions. In all, twelve thousand men, women 
and children perished, excepting the king, who was 
spared alive, but who was afterwards hanged to a 
tree. The cattle and the spoils of the city Joshua 
and the Israelites took for a prey. 

4. The league with the Gibeonites (Josh. 9 : 1-27) . 
When the inhabitants of Canaan heard of the vic- 
tories of Joshua, they leagued together for common 
defense. But the inhabitants of Gibeon, who were 
Hivites, dressed themselves in tattered garments, 
and, taking dry and mouldy bread and old and 
rent wine-bottles, came to Joshua and offered to be 
his servants, saying that they had heard what the 
Lord had done for Israel in Egypt and in the wilder- 
ness. Joshua made a league with them and con- 
firmed it with an oath. But, three days afterwards, 
the children of Israel heard that the Gibeonites were 
their neighbors, and, calling them, Joshua inquired 
why they had deceived him. They replied that they 
had heard of the promise that the Lord had made 
to Moses concerning the land and that the inhabitants 
were to be destroyed, and that they had resorted to 
this stratagem in order to save themselves. Upon 
hearing this, Joshua promised them that he would 
not destroy them for his oath's sake, but declared 
that they should be "hewers of wood and drawers 
of water.'' 

5. The victory at Gibeon (Josh. 10: 1-27). Adoni- 
zedec was the king of Jerusalem, and when he heard 
of the fall of Ai and the league of the Israelites and 
Gibeonites, he greatly feared, for Gibeon was a very 
strong city. So, sending to the surrounding kings, 
he made a league with them, saying: "Come up unto 

141 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon : for it 
hath made peace with Joshua and with the children 
of Israel." The league was formed, and when these 
kings came against Gibeon, the Gibeonites sent to 
Joshua, who was at Gilgal, for help. Joshua gath- 
ered his army, and, with the promise of the Lord 
that he should be victorious, he came against the 
enemies of Gibeon, defeated them, slew many and 
pursued the remainder through Beth-horon as far as 
Azekah and Makkedah. As the allies fled before 
Israel, the Lord rained great hailstones upon them, 
so that more died from the hail than by the sword 
of Israel. At Beth-horon, Joshua commanded the 
sun and moon to stand still, which they did until 
Israel had avenged themselves upon their enemies. 
After the victory was won, Joshua and all Israel 
returned to Gilgal. But when it was told him that 
the five kings of the allies were hidden in a cave at 
Makkedah, he commanded that great stones should 
be rolled against the mouth of the cave and that 
a guard should be left to defend it, while the rest 
pursued the remnant of the Amorites and smote 
them until they were consumed. When this force 
returned, Joshua commanded the five kings to 
be brought before him, and, after his captains 
had put their feet upon their necks, he slew 
them and hung their bodies to trees until evening, 
when they were flung into the cave where they 
had hid. 

6. Further conquests in southern Canaan (Josh. 
10:28-43). Joshua now turned his attention to 
Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron and 
Debir, all of which cities he conquered, putting their 

142 



THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN— JOSHUA 

kings and inhabitants to the sword. After these 
conquests, he returned to Gilgal. 

7. The conquest of northern Canaan (Josh. 11: 
1-23). Jabin, king of Hazor, being told how Joshua 
had conquered the cities of southern Canaan, enHsted 
in a league a large number of the neighboring kings, 
with a multitude of men, horses and chariots, and 
pitched at the waters of Merom to fight against 
Israel. Joshua, hearing this, led his army against 
Jabin, defeated him and followed the remnant of his 
force northward into Phoenicia. On his way back, 
he took Hazor, slew its king and burned the city 
to the ground. In course of time, all the cities in 
that part of the land fell before him, and he slew 
their kings, though he spared the cities themselves 
and the cattle. 

8. Recapitulation (Josh. 12:1-24). At the close 
of the conquest, the children of Israel had conquered, 
in all, thirt3^-one kings. Yet the land was not entirely 
subdued, for there yet remained the country of the 
Philistines on the southwest, and other territory on 
the south, east and north which was still in the 
possession of the original inhabitants. 

III. THE DIVISION OF THE LAND 

After Joshua had conquered the land, the Lord 
commanded him to divide it among the tribes. The 
inheritance of each tribe was as follows : 

1. The portion of Reuben (Josh. 13:23). The 
portion of the land that was allotted to Reuben lay 
directly east of the northern half of the Dead Sea. 

2. The portion of Gad (Josh. 13:24-28). The 
tribe of Gad was given the territory east of the 

10 143 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Jordan and north of the territory of Reuben, Its 
southern limit would be a line drawn directly east 
from the northern extremity of the Dead Sea, and its 
northern limit would be a line drawn directly east 
from the Jordan about midway between the two 
seas, although the valley of the Jordan, eastward of 
that river and as far north as the Sea of Galilee, was 
also included in the territory belonging to this tribe. 

3. The portion of the half-tribe of Manasseh east 
of the Jordan (Josh. 13:29-31). The portion of land 
given to the half-tribe of Manasseh east of the Jor- 
dan lay north of the territory of Gad and east of the 
territory of Gad, the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan 
River. 

4. The portion of Simeon (Josh. 19:1-9). The 
portion of land allotted to the tribe of Simeon was 
the most southerly of any west of the Jordan. It lay 
between, and south of, the portion given to Judah 
and the land of Philistia. 

5. The portion of Judah (Josh. 15: 1-63). Judah's 
inheritance skirted the entire west coast of the Dead 
Sea and extended westward to a point about midway 
between that sea and the Mediterranean. 

6. The portion of Benjamin (Josh. 18: 11-28). The 
land of the Benjamites lay just west of the Jordan 
River, north of the portion of Judah and east of a 
point midway between the Jordan and the Mediter- 
ranean. 

7. The portion of Dan (Josh. 19:47-51). The 
tribe of Dan had territory allotted to it which lay 
north of Judah and Philistia, west of Benjamin and 
Ephraim and east of the Mediterranean. 

8. The portion of Ephraim (Josh. 16:5-10). The 

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145 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



land given to Ephraim lay almost in the center of 
Palestine, north of Benjamin and Dan and east of 
Dan. 

9. The portion of Issachar (Josh. 19:17-23). 
Issachar's territory lay north of Benjamin and 
Ephraim and skirted nearly the whole of the Jordan, 
between the seas, on the west. 

10. The portion of Manasseh west of the Jordan 
(Josh. 17:1-18). The territory of the half-tribe of 
Manasseh west of the Jordan lay north of Ephraim 
and Dan, west of Issachar and east of the Mediter- 
ranean Sea. 

11. The portion of Zebulun (Josh. 19: 10-16). The 
territory of Zebulun lay north of Manasseh and 
Issachar. 

12. The portion of Asher (Josh. 19:24-31). The 
territory of this tribe was located north of Manasseh 
and Zebulun and east of the Mediterranean. 

13. The portion of Naphtali (Josh. 19:32-46). 
Naphtali's portion lay east of Asher and Zebulun, 
north of Zebulun and Issachar and west of the Sea 
of Galilee, the river Jordan and the waters of Merom. 

IV. CONCLUDING EVENTS 

1. Setting up of the Tabernacle at Shiloh (Josh. 
18:1). Following the conquest of the land, the 
Tabernacle was set up at Shiloh in Ephraim. 

2. The cities of refuge (Josh. 20:1-9). By com- 
mand of God, Joshua established six cities of refuge 
to which a person who killed another, at unawares 
or unwittingly, might flee and find refuge from the 
avenger of blood. Three of these cities were east 
of the Jordan and three of them west. Those east 



THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN— JOSHUA 

of the Jordan were: Bezer, in the territory of 
Reuben; Ramoth, in Gad, and Golan, in Manasseh. 
Those west were: Kirjath-arba, or Hebron, in Judah; 
Shechem, in Ephraim, and Kedesh, in Naphtali. 

3. The allotments of the Levites (Josh. 21:1-45). 
When the land was divided, no territory was allotted 
to the tribe of Levi, as they were a tribe of priests. 
But, after the other tribes had received their por- 
tions, the fathers of the Levites came to Joshua 
and Eleazar and the fathers of Israel, and de- 
manded that cities with their suburbs be given 
them according to the divine command through 
Moses. This was acceded to, and forty-eight cities 
were allotted to them, scattered throughout the land 
of Canaan. 

4. The schism of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh 
(Josh. 22:1-34). Joshua now called the Reubenites, 
Gadites and Manassehites, whose territory lay beyond 
Jordan, and instructed them to return to the lands 
which had been allotted them. These instructions 
they obeyed, and built a great altar by the Jordan. 
The other tribes, when they heard this, were greatly 
incensed and gathered together at Shiloh to prepare 
for war. They sent messengers to the Reubenites, 
Gadites and Manassehites, one from each of the ten 
remaining tribes, who charged them with having 
rebelled against the Lord. This charge the Reuben- 
ites, Gadites and Manassehites denied, and replied 
that they had built the altar, not for burnt-ofifering 
or sacrifice, but to be a witness between them and 
the other tribes and their generations after them 
that they had part and lot in the common worship 
of Israel. When the messengers of the ten tribes 

147 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



heard this, they were greatly pleased and returned 
to their own land and war was averted. 

5. The last counsels of Joshua (Josh. 23 : 1-24 : 
28). Joshua was now very old, and, calling before 
him the leaders of the people, he recounted their 
victories and the ways in which the Lord had deliv- 
ered them, and admonished them to be true and 
faithful to their God. He then put the test in the 
following words : "And if it seem evil unto you to 
serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will 
serve; whether the gods which your fathers served 
that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods 
of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for 
me and my house, we will serve the Lord." At 
this, Israel cried: "God forbid that we should forsake 
the Lord, to serve other gods." Then Joshua made 
a covenant with the people and set up a stone in 
Shechem as a memorial of it. 

6. The death of Joshua (Josh. 24:29-33). Joshua 
died and was buried in Timnath-serah in Mount 
Ephraim. Eleazar, son of Aaron, also died, and his 
son, Phinehas, took his place as high priest. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the general outline of this study. Give a brief account 
of the early history of Joshua. How many years were spent in 
the conquest of Canaan? When did the conquest begin? Name 
the tribes that inhabited Canaan before the conquest. Tell about 
the commission of Joshua. What was the first thing that he did 
when he took command of the armies of Israel? Tell about the 
visit of the spies to Jericho. Describe the passage of the Jordan. 
Where was Israel's first stopping-place in Canaan? What four 
things occurred there? Tell about the fall of Jericho. What 
was the sin of Achan and what penalty befell him ? Describe the 
conquest of Ai. Tell about the league with the Gibeonites. De- 

148 



THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN— JOSHUA 

scribe the victory at Gibeon, Mention the names of other cities 
which Joshua conquered. Let each student draw a map of 
Canaan and locate the portion of each tribe. After the conquest, 
where was the Tabernacle set up? How many cities of refuge 
were there? Name and locate them. How many cities were 
allotted to the Levites? Why were the Levites not given a por- 
tion with the other tribes? Tell about the schism of Reuben, 
Gad and Manasseh. What were the last counsels of Joshua? 
What did Joshua erect at Shechem? Where was Joshua buried? 
Who died about the same time? Who succeeded Eleazar? 



149 



STUDY XVIII. THE PERIOD OF THE 
JUDGES 

(Judg. 1:1-1 Sam. 25:1) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The judges. The judges were the fifteen 
patriots and religious reformers who were raised up 
by the Lord to be leaders of His people during that 
period of time which lay between the death of 
Joshua (1425 B. C.) and the accession of Saul (1095 
B. C). 

2. The condition of the people. During this 
period, each tribe was a law unto itself, although they 
confederated together in time of common danger. 
The existing conditions are well expressed in chap. 
17:6: "Every man did that which was right in his 
own eyes." The spiritual condition was one of 
vacillation — apostasy and reform. 

3. The incomplete victories of the tribes (Judg. 
1:1-3:4). As has before been stated, the conquest 
of Canaan was not complete at the death of Joshua. 
In some parts of the land, the original nations had 
strongholds either on the outskirts of or among the 
tribes. Judah went out against the Canaanites and 
drove out the inhabitants of the mountain, but could 
not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because 
they had chariots of iron. The Benjamites also 
failed to drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jeru- 

150 




151 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



salem, and the Manassehites the inhabitants of many 
towns within their borders. Ephraim, Zebulun, 
Asher, Naphtali and Dan also made partial failures, 
and the Canaanites continued to dwell among them. 
It was the mingling of these nations with Israel that 
caused the latter so often to forsake Jehovah and 
worship Baalim. 

I. THE RULE OF OTHNIEL 

(Judg. 3:5-11) 

So corrupt did Israel become after the death of 
Joshua that the Lord sold them to Chushanrishath- 
aim, king of Mesopotamia, whom they served eight 
years. At the expiration of this period, the Lord 
heard their cries and raised up Othniel, the son of 
Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who delivered them. 
The land then had rest for forty years, when Othniel 
died. 

XL THE RULE OF EHUD 

(Judg. 3:12-30) 

After the death of Othniel, the children of Israel 
apostatized, and the Lord delivered them into the 
hands of Eglon, king of Moab, whom they served 
for eighteen years. But the Lord again heard their 
cries and raised up Ehud, the left-handed son of 
Gera, the Benjamite, who delivered them. Ehud 
made a dagger and, taking a present, went in to 
Eglon and requested to see him in secret. After the 
attendants had gone out, Ehud thrust the dagger 
into his body and fled, locking the door behind him. 
When Eglon's attendants re-entered the room, they 
found their lord dead upon the ground. Fleeing to 

152 



THE PERIOD OP THE JUDGES 



Mount Ephraim, Ehud blew a trumpet, and, gather- 
ing Israel around his standard, he went against 
Moab and slew ten thousand men. Following this, 
the land had rest for eighty years. 

III. THE RULE OF SHAMGAR 

(Judg. 3:31) 

But little is known of this judge. He was prob- 
ably of the tribe of Judah. The only historical fact 
that is recorded concerning him is that he slew six 
hundred Philistines with an ox-goad. 

IV. THE RULE OF DEBORAH AND BARAK 

(Judg. 4:1-5:31) 

The children of Israel again apostatized, and 
were delivered into the hands of Jabin, king of 
Hazor, who mightily oppressed them for twenty 
years, being very strong, having nine hundred char- 
iots of iron. Deborah, a prophetess of Ephraim, 
judged Israel at this time. Her associate was Barak, 
of the tribe of Naphtali, whom she ordered to take 
ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and pro- 
ceed to Mount Tabor, where she would draw Sisera, 
captain of Jabin's host, to him. But Barak refused 
to go unless Deborah would go with him, which she 
readily consented to do. Heber the Kenite, who 
was a descendant of Hobab, Moses' father-in-law, 
when he saw that Barak had gone up to Tabor, went 
and told Sisera, who gathered his force together and 
went against Barak, who came down from the 
mountain with his ten thousand men to meet him. In 
this conflict, Sisera's army was defeated and fled, 

153 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



pursued by Barak. Sisera himself fled on foot to the 
tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, where, when 
he had quenched his thirst, he lay down and fell 
fast asleep. When Jael saw that he was asleep, she 
took one of the nails of the tent and, with a ham- 
mer, drove it through his temple. As Barak pursued, 
Jael went out to meet him and told him to follow 
her and she would show him the man that he sought. 
When he entered the tent, Sisera lay there dead 
before him. The children of Israel followed up their 
victory until finally Jabin himself was slain. Then 
Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise, glorifying 
God, praising the people, especially Jael, and pro- 
nounced a curse upon Meroz because the inhabitants 
of that place did not come up to the help of the 
Lord against the mighty. 

V. THE RULE OF GIDEON 

For the fourth time Israel apostatized, and the 
Lord delivered them into the hands of the Midianites, 
whom they served for seven years. The Midianites 
oppressed them so sorely that the children of Israel 
fled to the dens and caves of the mountains, while 
their enemies destroyed their crops and plundered 
their land. 

L The call of Gideon (Judg. 6: 11-23). The chil- 
dren of Israel cried to the Lord, and He raised up 
Gideon, of the tribe of Manasseh, to lead them 
against their enemies. Gideon was threshing wheat 
when an angel appeared to him and said: "Go in 
this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the 
hand of the Midianites." Gideon replied that his 
family was poor in Manasseh and that he was the 

154 



THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES 



least in his father's house. But the Lord answered : 
"Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the 
Midianites as one man." In proof of this, Gideon 
asked a sign, and, begging the angel to tarry, he 
went into his house, and, preparing a kid and unleav- 
ened cakes, he put the meat in a basket and the 
broth in a pot and carried it out to the angel. The 
angel told Gideon to lay the flesh and cakes on a 
rock and to pour out the broth, which he did. The 
angel then touched the cakes and the flesh with his 
staff, and there rose up fire out of the rock and 
consumed them. This was the sign by which Gideon 
was to know that his visitor was an angel of the 
Lord. 

2. Gideon reforms his father's house (Judg. 6: 
24-32). That same night the Lord appeared to 
Gideon and commanded him to slay his father's bul- 
lock, seven years old, tear down his father's altar 
to Baal," cut down the grove, and erect on the stone 
above mentioned an altar to Jehovah. So, taking 
ten servants, he did as he was commanded. The 
next morning, when the people of the place saw 
that Baal's altar and grove were destroyed, they 
inquired who had done it, and when it was told 
them that it was Gideon, the son of Joash, they 
demanded of his father that he be brought out that 
they might slay him. His father replied that if Baal 
was God, he was able to defend his own cause. 

3. Gideon prepares for battle (Judg. 6:33-7:6). 
The Spirit of the Lord now rested upon Gideon, and 
he blew a trumpet and gathered around his standard 



^ Baal (pi. Baalim). The supreme male divinity of the Phoenician and 
Canaanitish nations, as Ashtoreth was their supreme female divinity. 

155 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



the inhabitants of his own town, Abiezer. Then 
messengers were sent throughout Manasseh, Asher, 
Zebulun and Naphtali, and they, too, came. Having 
done this, Gideon demanded of the Lord that if he 
would deliver Israel, a fleece of wool put upon the 
floor might be covered with dew, while the ground 
should remain dry. The fleece was placed upon the 
floor, and while the ground remained dry, the wool 
was wet. Then Gideon asked the Lord, as a further 
sign, that the wool might be dry and the floor wet. 
Again the Lord answered as Gideon had requested. 
By these signs Gideon knew that the Lord would 
save Israel. Gideon then pitched at the well Harod, 
while the Midianites pitched by the hill Moreh in 
the valley. The Lord then told Gideon that Israel's 
number was too great to deliver the Midianites into 
their hands, lest they vaunt themselves, so he was 
commanded to permit all who were fearful to return. 
There returned twenty-two thousand men, leaving 
only ten thousand. But the Lord again told him 
that the number was too great, and he was com- 
manded to take them down to the water, and was 
told that all who lapped as a dog should be kept, 
while the remainder should be sent home. By those 
who lapped, three hundred in all, the Lord told 
Gideon that he would deliver the Midianites into 
his hands. 

4. The overthrow of Midian (Judg. 7:7-25). The 
same night, by divine command, Gideon and his 
servant Phurah went down into the host of Midian, 
which lay in the valley like grasshoppers for multi- 
tude. Entering the camp, Gideon heard one Midianite 
telling his fellow a dream, in which he had seen a 

156 



THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES 



cake of barley tumble into the host of Midian and 
overturn a tent. His fellow replied that this was 
nothing else than the sword of Gideon, to whom the 
Lord had delivered Midian. Gideon worshiped God, 
and, returning to Israel, divided his three hundred 
men into three companies, and gave each man a 
trumpet, an empty pitcher and a lamp, the latter to 
be put within the pitcher. Having done this, he 
commanded that, when he blew his trumpet, the 
others were to blow their trumpets and shout, ''The 
sword of the Lord and Gideon." Gideon then led his 
army down to the camp of Midian, and, when he 
blew his trumpet, the three hundred blew their 
trumpets, broke their pitchers, held their lamps in 
their hands and shouted their battle-cry. This caused 
consternation in the Midianite camp, every man's 
hand being against his brother, and the Midianites 
fled, pursued by Manasseh, Asher, Naphtali and 
Ephraim. Among the Midianites slain were the 
two princes, Oreb and Zeeb, whose heads were 
brought to Gideon. 

5. The complaint of Ephraim (Judg. 8: 1-3). But 
the Ephraimites complained because they had not been 
called to share in the struggle with the Midianites, 
and Gideon said : "God hath delivered into your 
hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb : and 
what was I able to do in comparison of you?" Their 
anger was then abated. 

6. Gideon pursues the kings of Midian (Judg. 
8:4-21). Gideon pursued the fleeing kings of IMidian, 
Zebah and Zalmunnah, and passed through Succoth 
and Penuel. He demanded bread of the inhabitants 
of these cities, but, as this was refused, on his way 

157 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



back he tore the flesh of the elders of Succoth with 
the thorns and briars of the wilderness and beat down 
the tower of Penuel and slew its inhabitants. Cap- 
turing the kings, Gideon asked them whom they 
had slain at Tabor. They replied that each one 
resembled the child of a king. Whereupon, Gideon 
ordered his son, Jether, to slay them. But, Jether 
being afraid because of his youth, Gideon took the 
sword and slew them and took away their ornaments. 

7. Gideon offered the crown (Judg. 8 : 22-27). After 
the defeat of the Midianites, the children of Israel 
demanded that Gideon should rule over them. But 
this he refused to do, replying: 'T will not rule over 
you, neither shall my son rule over you : the Lord 
will rule over you." He requested, however, that all 
the earrings taken from the Midianites should be 
given him, and out of them he made an ephod, 
which he put in his own city, but which became a 
snare to him and his house. 

8. The death of Gideon (Judg. 8:28-32). Gideon 
ruled Israel for forty years and, dying in a good 
old age, was buried in Ophrah, having had seventy 
sons by his wives and one son, Abimelech, by a 
concubine at Shechem. 

VI. THE RULE OF ABIMELECH 

(Judg. 8:33-9:57) 

After the death of Gideon, the children of Israel 
returned to the worship of Baal. The successor of 
Gideon was Abimelech, who began his rule by slay- 
ing his father's sons on one stone in Ophrah, but 
one of them, Jotham, escaping. The men of Shechem 
then made Abimelech king. When this was told 

158 



THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES 



Jotham, he went to the summit of Mount Gerizim 
and there rebuked them in his fable of the trees 
meeting together to anoint a king. Abimelech ruled 
at Shechem three years, when the Shechemites re- 
volted against his cruelty and laid an ambuscade for 
him. But, being told of this by Zebul, the ruler of 
the city, he escaped, defeated the Shechemites, de- 
stroyed their city and sowed it with salt. He met 
his death in an attack upon Thebez, where a certain 
woman cast a piece of millstone upon his head from 
the top of a tower, breaking his skull. Seeing that 
he was mortally wounded, he said to his armor- 
bearer: "Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men 
say not of me, A woman slew him." 

VII. THE RULE OF TOLA 

(Judg. 10:1, 2) 

The next judge was Tola, the son of Puah, a 
man of Issachar. He dwelt at Shamir, where he 
died and was buried after ruling Israel twenty-three 
years. 

VIII. THE RULE OF JAIR 

(Judg. 10:3-5) 

Tola was followed by Jair, a Gileadite, who 
judged Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons 
who rode thirty ass colts and had thirty cities. When 
he died he was buried at Camon. 

IX. THE RULE OF JEPHTHAH 

After the death of Jair, the children of Israel 
again lapsed into idolatry, and the Lord, in anger, 
sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the 

11 159 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



children of Ammon, who invaded their land and 
oppressed them eighteen years. But, at the expira- 
tion of this time, the children of Israel repented and 
assembled at Mizpeh, saying: "What man is he that 
will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? 
he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead" 
(Judg. 10:6-18). 

1. The birth and parentage of Jephthah (Judg. 
11:1-3). Jephthah was the son of Gilead by a 
harlot and was born in Gilead. He was a mighty 
man of valor, but was thrust out of his father's 
house by his half-brothers on account of his illegit- 
imacy, and dwelt in the land of Tob. 

2. Jephthah called to lead Israel (Judg. 11:4-29). 
But when the Ammonites came against Israel, the 
elders of Gilead came to Tob and urged him to take 
command of their forces. This, at first, Jephthah 
refused to do, on account of their ill treatment, but 
finally consented. Having been chosen to lead the 
forces of Israel in Mizpeh, he sent messengers to 
the king of the Ammonites asking him why he had 
come against him. The Ammonite replied that it 
was because Israel had taken away a part of his 
land. This, Jephthah denied and called God to 
witness between Israel and Ammon. 

3. Jephthah's awful vow (Judg. 11:30-40). When 
the Ammonites refused to pass out of the land, 
Jephthah made a vow that, if the Lord would deliver 
them into his hands, upon his return whatsoever he 
met coming forth from the doors of his house should 
surely be the Lord's and (or) he would offer it as 
a burnt-offering. The Ammonites were severely 
defeated and were smitten from Aroer to Minnith, 

160 



THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES 



and Jephthah returned in peace. The first thing that 
he met coming from his house upon his return was 
his only daughter. When he saw her he rent his 
clothes, exclaiming: "Alas, my daughter! thou hast 
brought me very low, and thou art one of them that 
trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the 
Lord, and I cannot go back." His daughter replied 
that he should do as he had vowed. And he sent 
her away for two months upon the mountains to 
bewail her virginity with her friends, at the expira- 
tion of which time she returned and he did with 
her according as he had promised the Lord.^ 

4. The second jealousy of Ephraim (Judg. 12 : 1- 
6). The men of Ephraim were jealous because they 
had not been invited to share in the conflict with 
and victory over the Ammonites, and threatened to 
burn Jephthah's house with fire. Jephthah gathered 
the men of Gilead, defeated them and took the pas- 
sages of the Jordan. And, whenever one passed over, 
he was required to say "Shibboleth," but, if he pro- 
nounced it "Sibboleth," it was known that he was 
an Ephraimite and he was accordingly slain. There 



1 This account of Jephthah's offering his daughter has long been a 
favorite argument against the inspiration of the Bible with skeptics. But, 
if Jephthah really did, in accordance with his vow, make his daughter a 
burnt-offering, God was in nowise responsible for it, for human sacrifices 
were condemned in the law (Lev. 18: 21; 20: 2; Deut. 12: 31). If Jephthah 
really sacrificed his daughter, he followed, not a custom of his own people, 
but one derived from the heathen nations with whom his tribe (Gad) came 
continually in contact. Some expositors, however, render the Hebrew of 
Judg. 11: 31 to read: 'Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the 
doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children 
of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, or I will offer it up for a burnt-offer- 
ing." Meaning that if a person came to meet him, that person was 
to be specially dedicated to the Lord; while if a clean beast came out, it 
was to be offered as a burnt-offering. 

161 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



fell at this time forty-two thousand of the children 
of Ephraim. 

5. The death of Jephthah (Judg. 12:7). Jeph- 
thah judged Israel six years, when he died and was 
buried in one of the cities of Gilead. 

X. THE RULE OF IBZAN 

(Judg. 12:8-10) 

The tenth judge was Ibzan, who judged Israel 
seven years. He had thirty sons and thirty daugh- 
ters, and, upon his death, was buried at Bethlehem. 

XL THE RULE OF ELON 

(Judg. 12:11, 12) 

Elon, a Zebulunite, next judged Israel. He ruled 
for ten years and was buried at Aijalon. 

XXL THE RULE OF ABDON 

(Judg. 12:13-15) 

After Elon came Abdon, the son of Hillel, a 
Pirathonite, who judged Israel eight years. He had 
forty sons and thirty nephews, and, upon his death, 
was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim. 

XIIL THE RULE OF SAMSON 

The children of Israel again apostatized, and the 
Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines, 
who afflicted them forty years. 

1. The birth and parentage of Samson (Judg. 13: 
2-25). This judge was born at Zorah in the territory 
of Dan, and was the son of Manoah. He was a 

162 



THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGED 



Nazarite from his birth, drinking neither wine nor 
strong drink, nor eating any unclean thing. 

2. Samson marries a Philistine wife ( Judg. 14 : 1- 
4). Samson went down to Timnath, and, seeing a 
certain woman of the Philistines, he returned to his 
parents and requested them to get her for him to 
wife. At first they objected because of her nation- 
ality, but afterwards consented, not knowing that 
it was of the Lord. 

3. Samson's riddle (Judg. 14:8-20). As Samson 
went down to Timnath to see his wife, he slew a 
lion. Returning to take her, he discovered that the 
carcass was full of bees and honey. At the marriage 
feast he propounded the following riddle to thirty 
Philistines : "Out of the eater came forth meat, and 
out of the strong came forth sweetness." The seven 
days of the feast were allotted for its answer, and 
the forfeit, put up by each side, was thirty sheets 
and thirty changes of garments. The Philistines, not 
guessing the riddle by the seventh day, went to 
Samson's wife and by threats induced her to en- 
deavor to obtain the answer from him. This she 
did, and the Philistines claimed the wager, which 
Samson paid with the garments of thirty men whom 
he slew at Ashkelon. Plis wife was then given to his 
companion. 

4. The foxes and the firebrands (Judg. 15:3-8). 
In the time of the wheat harvest, Samson, taking a 
kid, went down to Philistia to visit his wife. Her 
father refused to permit him to see her, offering her 
younger sister to him instead, and in wrath he 
caught three hundred foxes and, tying them together 
in pairs and attaching a firebrand to each pair, let 

163 



tttE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



them loose in their grainfields, with the result that 
not only the grain, but the vineyards and olive 
groves, also, were destroyed. For this the Philistines 
burned Samson's wife and her father with fire. Sam- 
son smote them with great slaughter for this and 
went to dwell on the top of the rock Etam. 

5. Samson slays a thousand Philistines (Judg. 15 : 
9-20). This judge was next delivered into the hands 
of the Philistines by the men of Judah and taken to 
Lehi. But when they shouted against him, the 
Spirit of the Lord came upon him, he burst his 
bands asunder, and slew a thousand of them with 
the jawbone of an ass. Thirsting, he called upon 
the Lord, who "clave a hollow place that was in 
the jaw," water gushed out, and he drank and was 
refreshed. 

6. Samson at Gaza (Judg. 16:1-3). Samson went 
down to Gaza, and when it was told the Philistines 
that he was in the city, they locked its gates, intend- 
ing to kill him in the morning. But he escaped by 
carrying off the city gate with its posts and bar. 

7. Samson and Delilah (Judg. 16:4-22). In the 
valley of Sorek there was a woman by the name of 
Delilah, whom Samson loved. The lords of the 
Philistines came to her and offered her a large re- 
ward if she would discover the source of Samson's 
strength, that they might prevail against him. At 
first he told her that if he were bound with seven 
green withes, he would be as weak as other men. 
But when he was bound and the Philistines came 
upon him, he broke the withes as though they were 
tow touched with fire. He then told her that if he 
were bound with new ropes, his strength would de- 

164 



THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES 



part from him. But these, too, he broke like thread. 
The third time he told her that if the seven locks 
of his head were woven in a web, his power would 
depart. But, when this was done and the Philistines 
had come upon him, he went away with the pin of 
the beam and the web. But the fourth time Samson 
told Delilah the truth, that, as a Nazarite, his 
strength was in his hair. The woman went and 
told the lords of the Philistines, and, while Samson 
slept upon her knees, they came in, shaved off his 
seven locks, and, when he awoke, put out his eyes 
and carried him captive to Gaza, where they bound 
him with fetters of brass and made him grind in the 
prison-house. 

8. The death of Samson (Judg. 16:23-31). At 
Gaza the Philistines offered a great sacrifice to their 
fish-god, Dagon,^ and Samson was brought in and 
set between two pillars to make sport for them. But 
he said to the lad who led him by the hand: "Suffer 
me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house 
standeth, that I may lean upon them." This was per- 
mitted him, and, calling upon the Lord, he bowed 
himself and pushed with all his might, and the house 
fell, killing his enemies and himself. He was buried 
in the sepulchre of his fathers between Zorah and 
Eshtaol, having judged Israel twenty years. 

XIV. THE RULE OF ELI 

Following the death of Samson there were apos- 
tasy, confusion and civil strife among the tribes 
(Judg. 17:1-21:25). The next judge, unless he 

^ The name of the national god of the Philistines at Gaza and Ashdod. 
He was represented with the face and hands of a man and the tail of a fish. 

165 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



ruled part of the time contemporaneously with 
Samson, was Eli. 

1. The lineage and character of Eli. Eli was a 
descendant of Ithamar, and was a pious but indolent 
man who was blinded by paternal affection to the 
degree that he lost the government over his children. 

2. The evil sons of Eli (1 Sam. 1:3; 2: 12-17, 22- 
25). The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were 
sons of Belial, notorious for their sacrilegious and im- 
moral conduct. When their father reproved them for 
their evil lives, they hearkened not unto him. 

3. The warning to Eli (1 Sam. 2:18-36). The 
parents of Samuel, Elkanah and Hannah, brought 
him to the Tabernacle and left him in charge of Eli, 
where he ministered before the Lord in a linen ephod. 
Then there came a man of God to Eli, telling him 
that his house should be cast out, that Hophni and 
Phinehas should die in one day, and that God would 
raise up unto Himself a faithful priest. 

4. The Philistines capture the ark (1 Sam. 4:1- 
11). The children of Israel went out against the 
Philistines and pitched at Ebenezer, where they were 
defeated. Then the elders sent to Shiloh for the 
ark of the covenant, supposing that by this means 
they could win the victory over their foes. When 
the ark was brought into the camp, the children of 
Israel shouted and the Philistines were sore afraid. 
But in the battle which ensued, Israel was defeated, 
the ark was taken, and thirty thousand men, including 
Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. 

5. The death of Eli (1 Sam. 4:12-18). The tid- 
ings of the loss of the ark and the death of his sons 
came to Eli as he was sitting upon a seat by the 

166 



THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES 



wayside, and so overcome was he that he fell back- 
ward off his seat and broke his neck. At the time 
of his death he was ninety-eight years of age and 
had ruled Israel forty years. 

XV. THE RULE OF SAMUEL 

1. The parentage of Samuel (1 Sam. 1:1-23). 
Samuel was the son of Elkanah and Hannah and of 
the tribe of Levi, and was promised to the Lord 
before his birth. He was born at Ramah. 

2. Samuel in the Tabernacle (1 Sam. 1:24-2:36). 
When Samuel was weaned, his mother took him, with 
three bullocks, an ephah of flour and a bottle of wine, 
to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. Here, year by 
year, his parents came to offer the yearly sacrifice, 
and at each visit his mother brought him a little 
coat. 

3. The call of Samuel (1 Sam. 3:1-21). In the 
days of Eli, there was no open vision, because of 
which the word of the Lord was precious. As Eli 
lay down in his place and his eyes became dim with 
sleep, and before the lamp went out in the Taber- 
nacle, the voice of the Lord called, "Samuel." Sam- 
uel answered, "Here am I," and ran to Eli to ask 
if he had called him. Eli replied that he had not, and 
told Samuel to lie down. Twice was this repeated, 
and the second time Eli perceived that it was the 
voice of the Lord, and commanded Samuel to lie down 
again, saying that, if the Lord spoke as before, he 
was to reply : "Speak, Lord ; for thy servant heareth." 
The Lord spoke the fourth time, and Samuel an- 
swered as he was bidden by Eli. Then the Lord 
told him that the house of Eli was rejected on ac- 

161 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



count of its sins. Samuel told Eli this, and all 
Israel knew that the lad had been called to the 
prophetship. 

4. The ark recovered from the Philistines (1 Sam. 
5 : 1-7: 1). When the PhiUstines carried away the ark 
from Ebenezer to Ashdod, they placed it in the house 
of their god, Dagon. But on the morrow, when the 
men of Ashdod went into the temple, they found that 
their god had fallen upon his face to the earth before 
the ark. They set him in his place again, but the 
same thing was repeated and the palms of both hands 
were broken off. The men of Ashdod were also smit- 
ten with emerods. The ark was then taken to Gath, 
with the same results, and then to Ekron, where the 
same affliction came upon the people. The Philistines 
then clamored for it to be returned to Israel, which 
was done, and, along with it, five golden emerods and 
five golden mice were sent as a trespass-offering. 
Upon its return to Israel, it was first placed in charge 
of Joshua, the Bethshemite, but was afterwards re- 
moved to the house of Abinadab at Kirjath-jearim, 
where Abinadab's son, Eleazar, was sanctified to 
keep it. 

5. The revival at Mizpeh (1 Sam. 7:2-14). Fol- 
lowing the restoration of the ark, Samuel commanded 
the people to put away their strange gods. The peo- 
ple did this, and served the Lord only. He then 
gathered them at Mizpeh, where they made an 
acknowledgment of all their sins before the Lord. 
When the Philistines heard that Israel had gathered 
at Mizpeh, they went up against them to battle. At 
this the Israelites feared greatly, but Samuel took a 
•sucking lamb and offered it as a burnt-offering, at 

168 



THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES 



which the Philistines were defeated and were driven 
back to their own land. 

6. The latter years of Samuel (1 Sam. 7: 15-25 : 1). 
The remainder of Samuel's life is so interwoven 
with the lives of Saul and David that it will be con- 
sidered in the following two lessons. Briefly, how- 
ever, the events were as follows : The anointing of 
Saul as king; the announcement of the kingdom; the 
announcement of Saul's failure ; the anointing of 
David; the death of Samuel at Ramah after having 
ruled Israel for forty years. 

QUESTIONS 

How many judges were there ? Who were the judges? What 
was the condition of the people under their rule? Mention some 
of the incomplete victories of the tribes. Who was Othniel and 
how long did he rule? What nation of people were the enemies 
of Israel during Othniel's rule? Who was Ehud and who were 
the enemies of Israel under his rule? Who was Shamgar and 
what nation of people were enemies of Israel under his rule? 
Tell about Deborah and Barak. Who was Gideon? How was 
he called? What did he do first? What nation did he fight? 
How was the victory won ? Give some of the events in the latter 
part of Gideon's life. Tell something about Abimelech, Tell 
about the rule of Tola. Of Jair, Who was Jephthah? Who 
were the enemies of Israel during his rule? What awful vow did 
he make ? Tell about Ibzan. Tell about Elon. Tell about Abdon. 
Who was Samson? Tell about him taking a Philistine wife. 
Give the story of the foxes. Tell about the relations of Samson 
and Delilah. How did Samson die? Who was Eli? What was 
his character? What kind of sons did he have? How did the 
ark happen to fall into the hands of the Philistines ? What effect 
did this have upon Eli? Give the names of Samuel's father and 
mother. How did he happen to be placed in the Tabernacle ? Tell 
about his call. Tell about the recovery of the ark. Tell about the 
revival at Mizpeh. Give the important events of the latter years 
of Samuel's life. Where did he die? How long did he rule? 

169 



STUDY XIX. THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM 
—SAUL 

(1 Sam. 9:1-31:13) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The meaning of the name "Saul." The name 
"Saul" means "asked for." 

2. The condition of the times. The corrupt ad- 
ministration of justice by Eli's sons furnished an 
occasion for the desire for a king on the part of the 
children of Israel. This desire was further strength- 
ened by the example of the nations around them who 
were ruled by kings. Samuel had prepared the peo- 
ple for the kingdom by influencing them to renounce 
their idolatry and sin and by bringing the tribes more 
together into one body, yet he protested against the 
kingdom to the last. 

3. The time of Saul's reign. Saul reigned between 
the years 1095 and 1055 B. C, Usher's chronology. 

I. THE EARLY LIFE OF SAUL 

1. The parentage of Saiil (1 Sam. 9:1, 2). Saul 
was of the tribe of Benjamin, and the son of Kish, a 
mighty man of power. 

2. Saul meets Samuel (1 Sam. 9:3-27). The asses 
of Kish were lost, and Saul and a servant were dis- 
patched to find them. Passing through Mount Ephra- 
im, Shalisha, Shalim and the land of the Benjamites, 

170 




171 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



they came to the land of Zulph, but, not finding the 
asses, Saul suggested that they return home for fear 
that his father might think that they, too, were lost. 
To this the servant objected, and suggested that 
they visit Samuel at Ramah, who might be able 
to show them the way they should go. Saul con- 
sented, and they went into the city in search of 
Samuel. Now, the day before, the Lord had told 
Samuel that he would send to him a man out of the 
land of Benjamin whom he should anoint king over 
Israel. So, when Samuel beheld Saul, the Lord said to 
him: '^Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! 
this same shall reign over my people." Upon hear- 
ing this, Samuel invited Saul to eat with him, told 
him that his father's asses had been found, and in- 
formed him that he was the desire of Israel. 

XL KING SAUL UNDER DIVINE FAVOR 

L Saul anointed king (1 Sam. '10: 1-16). The next 
morning, as Saul was leaving the city, Samuel took 
a vial of oil, poured it upon his head and kissed him, 
exclaiming: *'Is it not because the Lord hath anointed 
thee to be captain over his inheritance?" He then 
told him that as he passed by Rachel's sepulchre he 
should meet two men who would inform him that 
the asses were found and that his father was sorrow- 
ing for him as lost. Samuel also gave him other 
signs by which he might know that he had spoken 
the truth, telling him, further, to tarry seven days 
at Gilgal until he should come down to him with 
burnt-offerings, sacrifices and peace-offerings and 
show him what to do. When they parted, Saul's 
heart was changed, and, meeting a company of 

172 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM—SAUL 

priests, he prophesied unto them. All the signs 
predicted came to pass. 

2. Saul chosen king (1 Sam. 10:17-27). Samuel 
then called all Israel together at Mizpeh. When all 
the tribes came near, he selected the tribe of Ben- 
jamin. Then, out of the tribe of Benjamin he selected 
the family of Matri. And then, out of the family of 
Matri, he chose Saul, the son of Kish. When inquiry 
was made as to the whereabouts of Saul, the Lord 
told those who sought him that he was hiding among 
the stuff. They then ran and brought him before the 
people, and he stood head and shoulders above them 
all. Then Samuel introduced him as the chosen of the 
Lord, and the people shouted: "God save the king!" 

3. Saul's victory over the Ammonites (1 Sam. 11: 
1-11). Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, came 
against Jabesh-gilead, and the men of that city said: 
*'Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee." 
But Nahash replied : "On this condition will I make 
a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your 
right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel." 
When the elders of Jabesh heard this, they requested 
seven days in which to consider the matter, which 
was granted. During this time they sent messengers 
to Gibeah of Saul, who told the inhabitants of that 
place of the demands of the Ammonites. When Saul 
heard the tidings, the Spirit of the Lord came upon 
him, and, in his anger, he hewed a yoke of oxen in 
pieces and sent the pieces throughout the land of 
Israel by messengers, with these words : "Whosoever 
Cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall 
it be done unto his oxen." Upon hearing this threat, 
fear came upon the people, and they assembled to- 

173 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



gether with one consent, and on the following morn- 
ing, 330,000 strong, they fell upon the Ammonites, 
slew part of them and scattered the rest. 

4. The renewal of the kingdom at Gilgal (1 Sam. 
11:12-15). So delighted were the people with the 
victory that they said to Samuel : "Who is he that 
said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that 
we may put them to death." But Saul replied: 
"There shall not a man be put to death this day: for 
to-day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel." 
Samuel then commanded them to assemble at Gilgal, 
where the kingdom was renewed and where sacri- 
fices and peace-offerings were made amidst great re- 
joicing. 

5. The proclamation of the kingdom (1 Sam. 12: 
1-25). Samuel then called all Israel to witness be- 
fore God that he had not defrauded nor oppressed 
them, nor taken their possessions, nor received bribes. 
He also recounted the deliverances of Jehovah from 
the hands of Pharaoh, Sisera, the Philistines, the 
Moabites and the Ammonites, and declared that, 
whereas God had given them a king, if they followed 
Him, they should be blessed, but if they did not fol- 
low Him, His hand should be against them as it was 
against their fathers. As a sign that Israel had 
sinned against God, Samuel prayed and the Lord 
sent a storm of thunder and rain because of which 
the people feared greatly. 

III. KING SAUL UNDER DIVINE DISFAVOR 

1. Saul's rejection announced (1 Sam. 13:1-14). 
Saul had reigned two years, and chose for himself 
a body-guard of two thousand men at Michmash and 

174 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— SAUL 

also a body-guard for Jonathan of one thousand men 
at Gibeah. Jonathan smote the garrison of the 
PhiHstines at Geba, and, when the tidings of this 
reached Philistia, the PhiHstines gathered together 
an army of thirty thousand chariots, six thousand 
horsemen and a multitude besides, and came and 
pitched in Michmash. While the Philistines were 
miaking these preparations, Saul blew a trumpet 
throughout the land and assembled all Israel together 
at Gilgal. But, when they saw the multitude of the 
Philistines, they hid themselves in caves, thickets, 
rocks, high places and pits. Then Saul, after waiting 
seven days according to the command of Samuel, 
offered a burnt-offering himself. After he had done 
this, Samuel came and inquired why he had offered 
the burnt-offering. Saul replied that he had not come 
at the time appointed, and, as the Philistines were 
about to come against him, he forced himself to offer 
it. Samuel rebuked him for this, and told him that 
the kingdom should be taken from him. 

2. Jonathan's great victory over the Philistines (1 
Sam. 13:15-14:23). Following this, the Philistines 
went out in three companies against Israel. On a 
certain day, Jonathan, with his armor-bearer, secretly 
left the camp of Israel and went up to the Philistine 
garrison at Michmash. When the Philistines saw 
them coming, they derisively cried: "Behold, the 
Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had 
hid themselves." And again : "Come up to us, and we 
w^ill show you a thing." Upon hearing these taunts, 
Jonathan and his armor-bearer, confident that the 
Lord had given the Philistines into their hands, 
fell upon them and slew twenty. The remainder 

12 175 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



trembled with fear and fell upon one another. Saul's 
watchmen saw the Philistines melting away and re- 
ported the same to Saul, who commanded that Israel 
should be numbered that he might ascertain who was 
missing. When this was done, it was ascertained 
that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were the missing 
ones. Then Saul gathered his army, fell upon the 
Philistines and they fled. 

3. Saul angry with Jonathan (1 Sam. 14:24-45). 
In the morning of this day, Saul had adjured the peo- 
ple, saying: "Cursed be the man that eateth any food 
until evening, that I may be avenged on mine ene- 
mies." At the time that this adjuration was made, 
Jonathan and his armor-bearer were without the camp 
on their way to the Philistine garrison. Following 
the battle, the people came to a wood and there was 
honey upon the ground, but none of them dared to 
partake of it. Jonathan, not knowing the vow of his 
father, dipped his rod into the honey and tasted it. 
When Saul became aware of Jonathan's transgres- 
sion, although it had been committed in ignorance, he 
was about to slay him in conformity with his vow, 
but the people flew to his defense and exclaimed: 
"Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great 
salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, 
there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground ; 
for he hath wrought with God this day." 

4. A resume of Saul's wars (1 Sam. 14:46-52). 
After Saul had taken the kingdom, he fought and 
overcame the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Philis- 
tines and Amalekites. In these wars, Saul's captain 
was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. 

5. Saul's incomplete obedience (1 Sam. 15:1-35). 

176 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— SAUL 

Samuel the prophet came to Saul and commanded 
him to smite Amalek, charging him to "utterly destroy- 
all that they have, and spare them not; but slay 
both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and 
sheep, camel and ass." So Saul went and smote 
Amalek from Havilah to Shur, but saved Agag, the 
king, and the best of the flocks alive. When Samuel 
came to Saul, the latter said: ''Blessed be thou of the 
Lord: I have performed the commandment of the 
Lord." But Samuel replied : "What meaneth then this 
bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of 
the oxen which I hear?" Samuel then condemned 
Saul for his sin, and declared again that the Lord had 
rejected him from being king. At this, Saul bitterly 
repented, but Samuel refused to give heed and de- 
manded that Agag be brought before him. When 
this was done, Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before 
the Lord in Gilgal. Then Samuel returned to Ramah 
and Saul to Gibeah. 

6. Saul troubled with an evil spirit (1 Sam. 16: 1- 
23). By divine command, Samuel now anointed 
David king, and the Spirit of the Lord departed from 
Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.* 
SauFs servants suggested that they be authorized to 
find a man who was a cunning player upon the harp, 
who would be able thereby to drive the evil spirit 
away. This they were commanded to do, and they 
found David and brought him to the court. When- 
ever Saul was afflicted, David played upon his harp 
and refreshed him. 

7. Saul becomes jealous of David (1 Sam. 17:1- 



* This was not a spirit of moral, but of mental, evil wkich the Lord sent 
upon Saul as a judgment for his sins. 

177 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



18:19). After this, David slew Goliath and, on ac- 
count of the applause of the people, Saul became 
jealous of him. So, when David came into his pres- 
ence to play, after his return from the battlefield, 
Saul, being afflicted with the evil spirit, threw his 
javelin at him two times, but David escaped un- 
harmed. Saul also promised Merab, his daughter, to 
David to be his wife, but, when the time came, she 
was given to Adriel the Meholathite. 

8. Saul gives Michal to David (1 Sam. 18:20-30). 
Michal, the daughter of Saul, loved David, and, when 
this was told the king, he said : ''I will give him her, 
that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of 
the Philistines may be against him/' The servants 
of Saul told this to David and he exclaimed: "Seem- 
eth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in 
law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly es- 
teemed?" Saul required of David as a dowry the 
death of one hundred Philistines, and David and his 
men went forth and slew two hundred. Then Saul 
gave Michal to David to wife. 

9. Saul attempts to kill David again (1 Sam. 19: 
1-17). After this, Saul commanded Jonathan and all 
his servants to kill David. But Jonathan loved him 
and warned him of his father's orders. Then he went 
before his father and pleaded for David. At this Saul 
relented and swore that, as the Lord lived, David 
should not be slain. David was then recalled into his 
presence and was sent to fight the Philistines. After 
he had defeated them, he returned and played the 
harp in Saul's presence. But Saul, being again af- 
flicted with the evil spirit, became enraged and sought 
to smite David to the wall with his javelin, but he 

178 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— SAUL 

escaped and fled. That night the king set watchers 
around David's house that they might slay him in 
the morning, but Michal let him down through a 
window and he escaped. She then placed an image 
in his bed with a pillow of goat's hair for a bolster 
and reported to the guard that David was sick. 
When the messengers were come in and had dis- 
covered the deception, they reported the same to the 
king, who censured Michal for letting her husband 
escape, telling her that he was her enemy. David fled 
to Samuel at Ramah. 

10. David shows mercy to Saul (1 Sam. 19: 18-24: 
22). From Ramah David fled to Ahimelech, the 
priest, at Nob, and from there to Achish, king of 
Gath. But, fearing the Philistines, he escaped to the 
cave of AduUam, where he gathered about him a 
company of four hundred men. After this, David 
went to Mizpeh in Moab, and from there, by the com- 
mand of the prophet Gad, he departed to the forest of 
Hareth in Judah. But Saul discovered where David 
was and laid his plans to kill him. He slew 
Ahimelech and his house of priests, who had be- 
friended David, but David escaped and fled to the 
mountain of Ziph. Here Jonathan found him and 
the two renewed their covenant, but the Ziphites 
revealed David's hiding-place to Saul and offered to 
deliver him up, upon which he fled to the wilderness 
of Maon in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. 
Later, David dwelt in En-gedi, and when this was 
told the king, he went down to capture him. Com- 
ing to a cave, Saul went in to rest, not knowing that 
David was concealed within. V/hen the men of 
David saw his opportunity to kill Saul, they said to 

179 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



their leader: "Behold the day of which the Lord said 
unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into 
thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall 
seem good unto thee." But David refused to slay Saul, 
being content simply to cut off the skirt of his 
robe. Saul departed from the cave and David, follow- 
ing him, cried: "My lord the king." Upon hearing 
this, Saul stopped, and David, bowing himself, came 
to him and inquired why he had opened his ears to 
the idle tales of men, declaring that he meant him no 
harm, showing him the piece of his garment and tell- 
ing him how he had spared his life. When the king 
heard David's words and saw the evidence of his 
mercy, he relented, and declared that David was 
better than he and that he knew that he would yet 
possess the kingdom. He also made David swear 
that he would not cut off his seed after his death. 
They then parted, Saul going home and David to his 
stronghold. 

11. David shows Saul mercy a second time (1 
Sam. 26:1-25). But Saul's good intentions were 
short-lived, and when the Ziphites told him that 
David was in the hill of Hachilah, he took three thou- 
sand chosen men and sought him. David, hearing 
through his spies where Saul had pitched, took a 
servant (Abishai) and went to his camp. Saul lay 
in the midst of the camp with his spear thrust into 
the ground at his head and a cruse of water by his 
side. David took these with him, and when he 
reached the summit of a near-by hill, he cried out to 
Abner, who was with Saul, and accused him of not 
diligently protecting the king. He then told him to 
see where Saul's spear and cruse of water were. 

180 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— SAUL 

Then David showed the spear and told him to send 
young men to bring it, chiding him at the same time 
for seeking to slay him. Hearing this, the king con- 
fessed his sin and returned to Gibeah. David then 
went into Philistia, where he allied himself with 
Achish, king of Gath, to fight against Israel, but was 
providentially saved from this mistake by the dis- 
favor of the lords of the Philistines. 

12. Saul consults the witch of Endor (1 Sam. 28: 
7-25). Saul saw the host of the Philistines advancing 
and inquired of the Lord, but received no answer, 
"neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets," 
so he consulted the witch of Endor. Taking two of 
his companions and disguising himself, he went to 
her by night, and requested that she bring up the 
one whom he should name. But the woman was 
afraid, for Saul had cut off from the land those who 
had familiar spirits. Saul quieted her fears, and told 
her that no punishment should come upon her, and 
requested her to bring up Samuel. When Samuel 
appeared, the woman knew that her interviewer was 
Saul. As she described the form of the appearance 
which she saw coming up out of the earth, Saul knew 
that it was Samuel and bowed himself to the ground. 
Then Samuel asked Saul why he had disquieted him, 
and Saul replied that he was sore distressed because 
of the Philistines; that the Lord had refused to an- 
swer him, and that he had called him up in order that 
he might know what to do. Samuel then told him 
that the kingdom had been rent from him and given 
to David, and that on the morrow he and his sons 
should be with him. At these words, Saul was 
prostrated, and the woman killed a calf and made 

181 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



bread, and brought it before him and his servants, and 
they did eat. 

13. The death of Saul (1 Sam. 31:1-13; 1 Chron. 
10:1-14). On the morrow, Saul fought the PhiHs- 
tines at Mount Gilboa, and Israel was defeated. 
Among the slain were Saul's sons, Jonathan, Abin- 
adab and Melchi-shua, Saul himself being wounded. 
Seeing his condition, Saul called his armor-bearer and 
commanded him to take a sword and thrust him 
through lest the Philistines come and abuse him. The 
armor-bearer refused to do this, and Saul fell upon a 
sword himself and so died. His armor-bearer then 
followed his example and died with his master. On 
the morrow, when the Philistines found the bodies of 
Saul and his sons, they sent the tidings of their death 
back to the land of Philistia, and, stripping off Saul's 
armor, they placed it in the house of Ashtaroth and 
fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. The in- 
habitants of Jabesh-gilead, hearing what the Philis- 
tines had done, came by night and took the bodies 
of Saul and his sons and burned them at Jabesh, 
afterwards burying their bones at the same place 
under a tree. They then fasted seven days. 

QUESTIONS 

What does the name "Saul" mean ? Give the conditions under 
which Saul took the throne. Who was Saul's father? To what 
tribe did he belong? How did Saul come to meet Samuel? Tell 
about Saul's anointing. Tell about the public announcement of 
Saul as king. Describe Saul's victory over the Ammonites. Fol- 
lowing this victory, what occurred at Gilgal? Tell about the 
defeat of the Philistines at Michmash. In what respect did Saul 
sin in connection with this last battle? Tell about Saul's attempt 
to slay Jonathan. Against what nations did Saul fight? Tell 

182 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— SAUL 

about Saul's incomplete obedience. How was Saul afflicted? 
Whom did his servants secure as a harper to drive away the evil 
spirit? Why did Saul become jealous of David? Who was 
Michal? Tell about Saul's second attempt to kill David. How- 
many times did David show mercy to Saul ? Tell about the first. 
The second. Why did Saul consult the witch of Endor? What 
did Samuel tell him? Describe the death of Saul. 



183 



STUDY XX. THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM- 
DAVID 

(1 Sam. 16:1-1 Kings 2:11; 1 Chron. 11:1-29:30) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The meaning of the name "David." The name 
"David'' probably means "beloved." 

2. The condition of the times. Under David, the 
kingdom reached the zenith of its power, and, at his 
death, he reigned over that territory which extended 
"from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates: from 
Gaza on the west to Thapsacus on the east." From 
all the tribes in this vast territory a yearly tribute 
was exacted. Conditions were particularly auspicious 
for the establishment of a broad empire. Egypt, 
through internal troubles, was in no condition 
to prosecute foreign conquests ; Assyria had nearly 
sunken out of sight as a dominating power; the Hit- 
tites were practically helpless. 

3. The time of David's reign. David reigned be- 
tween the years 1055 and 1015 B. C, Usher's chro- 
nology.^ 

I. DAVID THE YOUTH 

1. David's parentage (1 Sam. 16:1). David was 
of the tribe of Judah and was the son of Jesse the 
Bethlehemite. His early occupation was the care of 

^ As this study is too lengthy for one lesson, it might be divided into 
two, the first four divisions being taken in the first and the fifth division in 
the second. 

184 



The 

KINGDOM 

of 

DAVID 



Damascus 




185 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



his father's flocks. During his shepherd Hfe, he com- 
posed some of the most beautiful of his Psalms, 
which he sang to the accompaniment of his harp. 
As a shepherd he was also renowned for his 
strength and courage. Once, when a lion came and 
took a lamb out of the flock, David slew the lion and 
rescued the lamb. In personal appearance he is de- 
scribed as of a ruddy countenance and beautiful to 
look upon. 

2. David anointed king (1 Sam. 16:2-13). When 
the Lord rejected Saul, he sent Samuel to the house 
of Jesse, at Bethlehem, to anoint one of his sons to 
be king over Israel. Samuel at first objected, saying 
that if Saul heard of it he would kill him. But the 
Lord told him to take an heifer and to pretend that 
he was going to Bethlehem to sacrifice. The Bethle- 
hemites saw him coming, and trembled, inquiring if 
he were coming peaceably. He replied that he was 
coming to sacrifice, and for them to sanctify them- 
selves. He then called the house of Jesse, and, as 
they passed before him, he said of the first son, Eliab: 
"Surely the Lord's anointed is before him." But the 
Lord told him that Eliab was rejected. Then Abin- 
adab passed by without being chosen. Then Sham- 
mah, and, in their turn, four others. But none of 
these was Samuel commanded to anoint. Samuel 
then asked Jesse if these w^ere all of his children. 
Jesse replied that he had another son, the youngest, 
who was keeping the sheep. Samuel commanded him 
to send for him, and, when David came in, the Lord 
said to Samuel : "Arise, anoint him : for this is he." 
Then Samuel arose and anointed David, and returned 
to Ramah. 

186 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— DAVID 

II. DAVID THE COURTIER 

1. David brought before Saul (1 Sam. 16:14-23). 
We have already seen, in the preceding lesson, how 
David was brought before Saul to play the harp and 
drive away the evil spirit that possessed him. It will 
not, therefore, be necessary more than to mention 
this and other events already touched upon. 

2. David slays Goliath (1 Sam. 17:1-58). During 
the time that David's relations with Saul existed, 
there was war between the Philistines and Israel, and 
the Philistines pitched at Ephes-dammim, between 
Shochoh and Azekah, while Saul and his army pitched 
in the valley of Elah. While these armies were in 
battle array against each other, there came out of 
the camp of the Philistines a giant, Goliath by name, 
an inhabitant of Gath, who defied the armies of 
Israel forty days, and challenged a champion of the 
same to come out and meet him in mortal combat, 
saying that the victory should rest with the side of 
the one who slew the other. When Israel heard these 
w^ords, they were greatly dismayed, and there was 
found no man who dared to meet him. But David 
had been sent down to Saul's army with food for his 
three eldest brethren, who were soldiers, and, when 
he heard the taunts of the Philistines, he inquired 
what the king would do to the man who slew the 
giant. He was told that Saul would enrich him, make 
his father's house free, and give his daughter to him 
to wife. Saul, hearing of the inquiries of David, sent 
for him, and, when he had entered his presence, David 
said : "Let no man's heart fail because of him ; thy 
servant will go and fight with this Philistine." At 

387 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



first Saul objected because of David's youth, but, as 
he was persistent, the king bade him go. Saul put 
his armor on David and his sword in his hand, but, 
as the lad had not proved them, he put them off, and, 
taking his staff, he went to the brook, from the bed 
of which he selected five smooth stones, and, with his 
sling in his hand, he went forth to meet the giant. 
When Goliath saw David coming, he exclaimed: "Am 
I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?" David 
replied: "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with 
a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the 
name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of 
Israel, whom thou hast defied/' The Philistine then 
drew near, and David ran out to meet him. Taking 
one of the stones from his bag, he threw it, and it 
struck the giant in the forehead, and he fell on his 
face to the earth. Then David ran, and, taking 
Goliath's sword, he cut off his head. When the 
Philistines saw that their champion was slain, they 
fled, pursued by Israel even to the gates of Ekron. 
David brought the head of Goliath to Jerusalem and 
put his armor in his tent. 

3. Jonathan makes a covenant with David (1 Sam. 
18:1-7). From this time forth, Jonathan, the son of 
Saul, loved David. He made a covenant with him, 
placed his own robe upon him, and gave him his 
garments, sword, bow and girdle. Saul, also, honored 
David by making him the commander of his army. 

4. Saul becomes jealous of David (1 Sam. 18:8- 
19). David returned from the slaughter of the Phi- 
listines and the women sang: "Saul hath slain his 
thousands, and David his ten thousands." This pro- 
voked Saul's jealousy, and, as has already been stated, 

188 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM—DAVID 

he tried at two different times to slay him. He also 
removed him from the command of his army and 
made him commander of only one thousand men. 

5. Saul gives Michal to David (1 Sam. 18:20-30). 
Saul promised his elder daughter, Merab, to David, 
but, instead, gave her to Adriel. His younger daugh- 
ter, Michal, loved David, and, when Saul heard this, 
he was greatly pleased and readily consented that she 
should be his wife, supposing that she would become 
a snare to him so that the Philistines would prevail 
against him. But, instead, she proved true to her 
husband and helped him to escape out of her father's 
hands. 

6. David flees the court (1 Sam. 19:1-17). Saul's 
third and last attempt to kill David being unsuc- 
cessful, he fled to Samuel at Ramah. From this time 
to his selection as king over Judah at Hebron, he was 
an outlaw fleeing from the vengeance of King Saul. 

III. DAVID THE OUTLAW 

1. Jonathan warns David (1 Sam. 20: 1-42). From 
Ramah, David fled to Jonathan and inquired of him 
why his father sought to slay him. To this inquiry 
Jonathan replied that David should not die, as he 
would discover his father's intention and reveal it 
unto him. So it was arranged that on the next day 
Jonathan should go to the feast of the new moon, 
and, when Saul should inquire after David, he should 
reply that he gave him permission to go to Bethlehem 
to the yearly sacrifice of his family. If Saul said, 
"Thy servant shall have peace," it was to be taken 
that David's life was in no imminent danger, but if 
he became wroth, it was to be taken as evidence that 

189 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



it would be best for David to flee. It was also ar- 
ranged that David should hide behind a certain rock at 
Ezel, and that, after the feast, Jonathan should come out 
into the field and should shoot three arrows as though 
he were shooting at a mark, and if he should say to 
the lad whom he should send for the arrows, ''Behold, 
the arrows are on this side of thee," David would 
know that his life was safe; but if he said, "Behold, 
the arrows are beyond thee," he was to know that his 
life was in danger and that he must flee. Saul in- 
quired of his son the whereabouts of David, and 
Jonathan replied that David had gone to Bethlehem 
with his permission. At this Saul became very angry 
and threw his javelin at Jonathan, but it missed its 
mark. Rising from his father's table in anger, 
Jonathan went into the field and warned David as it 
was agreed upon. When the lad who gathered up 
the arrows had returned into the city, David arose 
from his hiding-place, saluted and kissed Jonathan, 
and renewed the covenant with him that had previ- 
ously been made. 

2. David's flight (1 Sam. 21: 1-24:22). David fled 
to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest, from whom he re- 
ceived showbread to satisfy his hunger. Ahimelech 
also turned over to him the sword of Goliath. From 
Ahimelech, David fled to Achish, king of Gath. But 
some of the servants of Achish revealed David's 
identity, and, out of fear for his life, he was forced to 
feign madness, and "scrabbled on the doors of the 
gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard." 
From Achish, David fled to the cave of Adullam, 
where he gathered about him an army of four hun- 
dred choice men. From Adullam he fled to Mizpeh 

190 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM—DAVID 

in Moab ; from Mizpeh to Keilah, where he defeated 
the Philistines; from Keilah to the wilderness of 
Ziph; from the wilderness of Ziph to the wilderness 
of Maon, and from the wilderness of Maon to the 
strongholds of En-gedi, where he had mercy on Saul 
and spared his life. 

3. The death of Samuel (1 Sam. 25:1). At this 
point in the life of David, Samuel died and was 
buried, after which David arose and went down to 
the wilderness of Paran. 

4. David and Nabal (1 Sam. 25 : 2-44). There was 
a man in Maon by the name of Nabal, whose pos- 
sessions were in Carmel, where his servants were 
shearing his sheep. This man was of a churlish and 
evil disposition, but his wife, Abigail, was "a. woman 
of good understanding, and of a beautiful counte- 
nance." David's men had performed many good serv- 
ices for Nabal, and, when David heard that he was 
shearing his sheep, he sent two of his young men to 
ask him for a present. But Nabal refused this, and 
the young men returned to David. When David was 
told of Nabal's refusal, he was very angry, and com- 
mianded his men to gird on their swords, and, putting 
himself at the head of four hundred of them, two 
hundred remaining "by the stuff," he started out to 
be avenged on Nabal. But one of the servants had 
told Abigail of the treatment that David's men had 
received at the hands of her husband, and of the 
kindness of David and of the vengeance that would 
surely follow. So, preparing a large quantity of food, 
she went out to meet David. When she came near 
to him, she alighted from her beast, and, bowing to 
the earth, confessed her husband's insult, and pleaded 

13 191 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



for his life and the lives of those that were his. At 
this David's passion cooled, and he sent her to her 
house, assuring her that Nabal and those that w^ere 
his should be spared. Upon Abigail's return, she 
found Nabal intoxicated, and so she told him nothing 
until the following morning, when she informed him 
of what she had done. When he heard her words, 
**his heart died within him, and he became as a 
stone." Ten days afterward he was smitten of the 
Lord and died, following which Abigail became the 
wife of David, as did also Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess, 
Michal having been taken from him by Saul and 
given to Phalti, the son of Laish. 

5. David's flight continued (1 Sam. 26:1-30:31). 
PVom En-gedi, David fled to the hill of Hachilah, 
where he spared Saul's life a second time. From the 
hill of Hachilah he went again into Philistia and 
joined himself with the Philistines to fight against 
Israel, but was providentially saved from such a 
course. From Philistia he went to Ziklag, where he 
found that the Amalekites had burned the city and 
taken his wives and children captives. David im- 
mediately began pursuit, by the direction of the Lord 
through the Urim and Thummim, and, though two 
hundred of his six hundred men fell exhausted at the 
brook Besor, he continued to follow them, and finally, 
being directed by the Egyptian servant of one of the 
Amalekites, he overtook them, attacked them, slew 
all but four hundred who escaped on camels, and 
rescued his wives and children. The spoils of the 
Amalekites he divided among his men, also sending a 
portion of them as a present to the elders of Judah. 

6. David mourns for Saul (2 Sam. 1 : 1-27) . David 

192 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— DAVID 

had been in Ziklag, after his return from the defeat 
of the Amalekites, but two days when the tidings of 
Saul's death at Mount Gilboa came to him. On the 
third day a man came from Saul's camp with his 
clothes rent and dirt upon his head, and fell in 
obeisance upon the ground before David. David in- 
quired from whence he had come, and he exclaimed: 
"Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped." Being 
pressed further, he told of the defeat of Saul and how, 
at Saul's request, he had stood upon him and slain 
him. He then delivered to David the crown which 
he had taken from Saul's head and the bracelet which 
he had taken from his arm. Pressing him still 
further, David learned that he was an Amalekite, 
whereupon he ordered him slain because he had 
dared to stretch forth his hand to destroy the Lord's 
anointed. Then David mourned for Saul and Jona- 
than. 

IV. DAVID KING OVER JUDAH 

1. David received as king by Judah (2 Sam. 2: 
1-4). David now inquired of the Lord if he should 
go into any of the cities of Judah, and was told to 
go to Hebron. Here he was anointed king over the 
house of Judah. 

2. David blesses the men of Jabesh-gilead (2 Sam. 
2:5-7). It was told David that the men of Jabesh- 
gilead had buried Saul, and he sent messengers to 
them, who said: "Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye 
have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto 
Saul, and have buried him. And now the Lord show 
kindness and truth unto you: and I. also will requite 
you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. 

193 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and 
be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and 
also the house of Judah have anointed me king over 
them." 

3. War between Judah and Israel (2 Sam. 2:8- 
32). Following the death of Saul, Abner, the captain 
of his host, took Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, and brought 
him to Mahanaim, where he was made king over 
the eleven tribes. Soon after his accession, war was 
declared between the two rival kingdoms, and the 
army of Ish-bosheth, under Abner, and the army of 
David, under Joab, met in deadly conflict at the 
pool of Gibeon. In this battle Abner was defeated 
and his army routed. Abner attempted to escape, 
but was followed by Asahel, Joab's brother. Abner 
charged Asahel to turn aside lest he slay him, but 
this he refused to do, upon which Abner, turning 
round, thrust him through with his spear. Joab 
finally blew the trumpet and recalled his pursuing 
warriors, and the battle ended. The body of Asahel 
was buried in the sepulchre of his father at Bethle- 
hem. 

4. Abner's desertion and death (2 Sam. 3:7-39). 
Ish-bosheth accused Abner of intimacy with his 
father's concubine, Rizpah, which made him very 
wroth, and he sent messengers to David offering to 
deliver the eleven tribes into his hands. David 
agreed to consider the proposition under the condi- 
tion that Abner deliver into his hands Michal, the 
daughter of Saul. David also sent messengers to 
Ish-bosheth demanding that he deliver Michal up. 
This Ish-bosheth did, taking her from her husband, 
Phaltiel, to whom she had been given by Saul after 

194 



tHE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— DAVID 

David had been driven from the court. Abner then 
spoke favorably to the elders of Israel of David, and, 
taking twenty men, he went down to Hebron to see 
him. After conferring with him, Abner started to 
return, but on the way was captured by Joab's mes- 
sengers and was brought back to Hebron, where he 
was slain by Joab and his brother Abishai, for having 
killed Asahel. When David heard of Abner's death, 
he was greatly grieved and pronounced a curse upon 
the house of Joab's father. Abner's body was then 
buried amid the lamentations of David and all Israel. 
5. The murder of Ish-bosheth (2 Sam. 4:1-12). 
When Ish-bosheth and all Israel heard of the murder 
of Abner, they were sorely troubled. Ish-bosheth 
had two captains, Baanah and Rechab, of the tribe 
of Benjamin, who conspired against him and slew 
him as he lay in his bed, cut off his head, and, 
escaping, carried it to David. At this treachery David 
was greatly incensed, and ordered Baanah and 
Rechab slain. 

VI. DAVID KING OVER ALL ISRAEL 

1. David made king over all Israel (2 Sam. 5 : 1- 
16; 1 Chron. 11 : 1-9). With the death of Ish-bosheth, 
the elders of Israel came to David at Hebron and 
invited him to become their king. David consented 
to this, and a league was made and David was 
anointed king over all Israel. He made Jerusalem* 
his capital, and employed Phoenician carpenters and 
masons to build him an house. He also took more 
wives and concubines. 



^ Prior to this time, Jerusalem had been a city of the Jebusites. 
195 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



2. War with the Philistines (2 Sam. 5 : 17-25 ; 1 
Chron. 14:8-17). No sooner did the Philistines hear 
that David had been anointed king over all Israel 
than they invaded the land. David went out to meet 
them and gained a decisive victory over them at Baal- 
perazim. 

3. The ark brought up (2 Sam. 6 : 1-23 ; 1 Chron. 
15:25-16:3). Gathering together thirty thousand 
chosen men of Israel, David went down to Kirjath- 
jearim, or Baale, to bring up the ark of the covenant. 
The ark was placed on a new cart, driven by Ahio 
and Uzzah, sons of Abinadab, and was followed by 
David and the children of Israel playing upon all 
manner of musical instruments. When they reached 
Nachon's threshing-floor, Uzzah reached forth his 
hand to steady the ark, and was smitten by the Lord 
so that he died. This made David afraid to bring 
the ark into Jerusalem, and he left it in the house 
of Obed-edom, where it remained for three months. 
But, at the expiration of that time, it was told David 
that the Lord had blessed the house of Obed-edom, 
and he went and brought the ark to Jerusalem, and 
placed it in the Tabernacle which had been pitched 
for it, amid the shouting, the sacrificing and the 
feasting of all Israel. As the ark was being brought 
into the city, David danced before it, which caused 
him to be despised in the eyes of Michal, the daugh- 
ter of Saul. When he returned to bless his family, 
Michal reproached him for his unseemly behavior, for 
which she was rendered barren and had no children 
unto the day of her death. 

4. David desires to build an house for the Lord 
(2 Sam. 7: 1-29; 1 Chron. 17: 1-27). As the king sat 

196 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— DAVID 

in his house, being at peace with all his enemies, he 
conceived the purpose of building an house for the 
Lord. To Nathan the prophet he said: "See now, I 
dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwell- 
eth within curtains." That night the word of the 
Lord came to Nathan telling him to inform David 
that he should not build Him an house, but that his 
seed would be established after him and that he 
should build the house. When this was told David, 
he praised the Lord for what He had done, and 
interceded Him that his seed might continue forever 
before Him. 

5. The full extent of the Davidic kingdom (2 Sam. 
8.1-18; 1 Chron. 18:1-17). Under David the king- 
dom of Israel reached the zenith of its power and 
glory. He subdued the Philistines, the Moabites, 
Hadadezer, king of Zobah, the Syrians, the Ammon- 
ites, the Amalekites and the Edomites. Joab was 
the commander-in-chief of his army, Jehoshaphat was 
the recorder, Zadok and Ahimelech were the priests, 
and Seraiah was the scribe. 

6. David's kind treatment o£ Mephibosheth (2 
Sam. 9:1-13). David inquired if there yet remained 
any of the seed of Saul to whom he might show 
kindness for Jonathan's sake, and was told by Ziba, 
one of Saul's servants, that Jonathan yet had a son, 
Mephibosheth by name, who was lame in his feet. 
When David heard this, he ordered that Mephibo- 
sheth be brought before him, and restored to him all 
of his father's lands and told him that he should eat 
bread continually at his table. 

7. The Ammonite-Syrian war (2 Sam. 10 : 1-19 ; 1 
Chron. 19:1-19). Nahash, king of the Ammonites, 

197 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



died, and Hanun, his son, reigned in his stead. When 
David heard of the death of Nahash, he sent servants 
to his son to comfort him. But the princes of the 
land told Hanun that David's servants had not come 
to console him, but to spy out the city that he might 
overthrow it. So Hanun took David's servants and 
shaved one-half of their heads, cut off their gar- 
ments in the middle and sent them back. When 
this was told David, he ordered his servants to re- 
main in Jericho until their beards were grown out. 
The Ammonites, seeing that this act had rendered 
them odious in the sight of David, made a league 
with the Syrians and hired thirty-three thousand men 
to assist them in their defense. David, hearing of 
this alliance, sent out Joab against them, who divided 
his army into two divisions, he commanding one and 
his brother, Abishai, the other. The first was to 
fight the Syrians, the second the Ammonites. In the 
battle which ensued, the allies were defeated and 
Joab returned to Jerusalem. Hearing of the defeat, 
Hadarezer, king of the Syrians, gathered together a 
new force and came against David, who had en- 
camped at Helam. But here they were again over- 
whelmingly defeated and sued for peace. 

8. David's great sin (2 Sam. 11:1-12:23). David 
became deeply infatuated with Bath-sheba, the wife 
of Uriah the Hittite, and sent her husband to Joab, 
who was carrying on the war with the Ammonites, 
with the instructions that Uriah should be placed 
in the forefront of the battle so that he might be 
slain. In the besiegement of Rabbah, Uriah was 
given a conspicuous and dangerous position with 
the valiant men, and, in the sally of the defenders 

198 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— DAVID 

of that city, he lost his life. When the news of 
Uriah's death came to David, he took Bath-sheba, 
after her mourning was ended, into his house, and 
she became his wife and bore him a son. But the 
Lord was displeased with David for this sin and 
sent the prophet Nathan to him, who spoke the fol- 
lowing parable: There were two men in one city, 
one of whom was rich and had many flocks and 
herds; the other was poor and had just one little ewe 
lamb. A traveler came to the home of the rich man, 
but, instead of killing one of his own flock and dress- 
ing it for his guest, he slew the lamb of his poor 
neighbor and served it. Hearing this, David was 
greatly incensed, not discerning the parabolic char- 
acter of Nathan's language, and declared that the man 
who did this should restore the lamb fourfold and 
should also be put to death. Then Nathan said : *'Thou 
art the man." The prophet also told David that the 
sword should not depart from his house and that his 
child by Bath-sheba should die. At this, David was 
greatly troubled and confessed that he had sinned 
against the Lord, upon which Nathan told him that 
the Lord had put away his sin and that he should 
not die, but that the child should surely die. On 
the seventh day the child died according to the 
prediction of Nathan. 

9. The birth of Solomon (2 Sam. 12:24, 25). 
David comforted Bath-sheba, and she bore him a son 
whom he called Solomon, but Nathan called him 
Jedidiah because of the Lord. 

10. Rabbah taken (2 Sam. 12:26-31; 1 Chron. 20: 
1-3). Rabbah, the city of waters and capital of the 
Ammonites, was taken by Joab and David. The 

199 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



crown of the king was placed upon David's head; 
the spoils of the city were taken in great abundance, 
and the people were made to pass under saws, 
harrows and axes of iron and through the brick-kiln. 

11. Amnon's awful crime and death (2 Sam. 13: 
1-39). Amnon, one of the sons of David, fell deeply 
in love with his sister Tamar, and wronged her. 
Absalom, her brother, heard of this and took her 
into his house and hated Amnon for his deed. After 
two full years, Absalom invited the king's sons to 
his sheep-shearing at Baal-hazor, beside Ephraim. 
At first David refused to let them go, but after much 
importunity he consented. At the feast, when Amnon 
was intoxicated, Absalom's servants, by Absalom's 
command, fell upon him and slew him. At this his 
brethren fled, and the word was carried to David 
that all of them had been slain, upon which the king 
rent his clothes in great sorrow. But Jonadab, 
David's nephew, corrected this false report, and 
when his sons appeared there was great rejoicing, 
both among them and with David. After this crime, 
Absalom fled to Geshur, where he remained three 
years. Yet, notwithstanding Absalom's crime, David's 
heart went out to him. 

12. Absalom recalled through Joab's craft (2 Sam. 
14:1-33). At the expiration of three years, through 
Joab's craft, he was commanded to go to Geshur and 
bring up Absalom to Jerusalem, but he was for- 
bidden to bring him into the king's presence. This 
Joab did, and Absalom dwelt in the city for two 
years without seeing the face of his father. At the 
expiration of this period, Absalom sent for Joab two 
times, but, as he refused to come, he commanded 

200 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— DAVID 

his servants to set Joab's field of barley on fire, and 
when Joab came to inquire why his servants had 
done this, Absalom replied that he should go before 
the king and demand that he be permitted to see 
his face, and that, if he had done iniquity, the king 
should slay him. This plan was effective, and 
Absalom was admitted into David's presence. 

13. Absalom's revolt (2 Sam. 15:1-16:14). After 
Absalom had been restored to David's favor, he set 
about by flattery to steal the hearts of the ten tribes 
from his father. Going to the king, he received per- 
mission to go to Hebron, there to pay the vow that 
he had made to the Lord. Taking with him two 
hundred men from Jerusalem, who were ignorant of 
his intentions, he departed. From Hebron he sent 
spies throughout Israel who told the people that, 
when the trumpet sounded, they were to say: "Absa- 
lom reigneth in Hebron." Absalom was popular and 
his power increased. When this was told David, he 
and his household fled into the wilderness, accom- 
panied by the priests and Ittai the Gittite. David 
sent back the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, with the 
ark, into the city, and also Hushai the Archite, who 
came out to meet him in his flight. The latter was 
commissioned to play the spy and to offset the 
counsels of Ahithophel, who had revolted with Absa- 
lom. As David was fleeing, Ziba, the servant of 
Mephibosheth, met him with two beasts upon which 
were two hundred loaves, an hundred bunches of 
raisins, summer fruit and a bottle of wine. He told 
David that his master had also revolted against him, 
believing that the children of Israel would restore to 
him his father's kingdom. In this flight, also, David 

201 



TTHE dlST OF THE BiBLfi 



was cursed by Shimei, of the house of Saul, who 
accused him of being a bloody man. David's servants 
would have beheaded Shimei had it not been for the 
king's intercession in his behalf. 

14. Absalom enters Jerusalem (2 Sam. 16:15-23). 
After David had fled from the city of Jerusalem, 
Absalom and Ahithophel, with the men of Israel, 
entered and took possession of it. Here Hushai, by 
flattery, ingratiated himself into Absalom's favor as 
he had been commanded of David. 

15. Hushai defeats the counsels of Ahithophel (2 
Sam. 17:1-29). Once in possession of the city, 
Ahithophel counseled Absalom to permit him to 
choose twelve thousand men and pursue David while 
he was weak and weary, scatter the people that were 
with him, and slay him. This plan pleased Absalom, 
but he decided first to consult Hushai. But, when 
Hushai was called, he discouraged the plan, telling 
Absalom that David was a mighty man of war; that 
he would not lodge with his people, and that he was, 
undoubtedly, hid in some pit, advising Absalom to 
gather Israel together from Dan to Beer-sheba that 
he might fall upon his father and his followers as 
the dew fell from heaven, so that there might be 
left not so much as one. This advice pleased Absa- 
lom, and, when Ahithophel saw it, he got on his 
beast, rode home and hanged himself. Then Hushai 
told the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, to send word 
to David not to abide in the wilderness, but to pass 
over Jordan and be lost to sight. This message the 
priests sent by a wench to Jonathan and Ahimaaz, 
who were without the city, to deliver to the king. 
A lad, seeing them, reported the same to Absalom, 

202 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— DAVID 

who sent his servants after them, but they fled to 
Bahurim, where they concealed themselves in a well. 
The woman of the house covered the mouth of the 
well with a covering, upon which she spread ground 
corn, and, when Absalom's servants came down, they 
could not find them and returned to Jerusalem, after 
which Jonathan and Ahimaaz went on their way and 
told David all that they had been commanded. Heed- 
ing the instructions, David and his followers passed 
over Jordan, where they were befriended by the 
inhabitants of the country. 

16. The defeat and death of Absalom (2 Sam. 18: 
1-18). David now reorganized his army and divided it 
into three divisions, under Joab, Abishai and Ittai the 
Gittite. David himself desired to go out at the 
head of his forces, but to this his men objected, and, 
leaving him behind, they marched out against the 
army of Absalom under Amasa, and defeated it with 
great slaughter in the wood of Ephraim. As Absa- 
lom was fleeing from the battlefield, the mule that 
he rode passed under a great oak and his hair caught 
in one of the boughs, while his mule passed on from 
under him. This was told Joab, and, in spite of the 
request of David that Absalom's life should be spared, 
he took three darts and thrust them through his 
heart. He then blew the trumpet, and, when his 
army was collected, the lifeless body of Absalom 
was taken and was thrown into a pit and a pile of 
stones was placed upon it. 

17. David's grief for Absalom (2 Sam. 18:19-19: 
8). Then Ahimaaz, son of Zadok the priest, re- 
quested permission to run and tell David of the fate 
of Absalom, but this Joab refused, and Cushi was 

203 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



sent in his stead. But, being importunate, Ahimaaz 
was permitted to follow, and, on the way, outstripped 
Cushi and reached David with the tidings first. 
David was sitting between the two gates, and, when 
Ahimaaz came up to him, he inquired: ''Is the 
young man Absalom safe?" To which Ahimaaz re- 
plied: "When Joab sent the king's servant, and me 
thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not 
what it was." As Ahimaaz was speaking, Cushi 
came up and was asked the same question. He 
replied: "The enemies of my lord the king, and all 
that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that 
young man is." Upon hearing these words, David 
was greatly moved and, going to his chamber, he 
wept and exclaimed: "O my son Absalom, my son, 
my son Absalom ! would God I had died for thee, 
O Absalom, my son, my son !" The people heard 
that David was weeping for Absalom and were 
greatly affected, so Joab, going to the king, re- 
proached him for his unseemly grief, and told him 
that, if he did not appear before them, the people 
would all desert him. Then David went down and 
appeared before the people at the gate. 

18. David returns to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 19:9-43). 
The children of Israel now began to inquire for the 
return of David to Jerusalem, but the men of Judah 
did not seem to show so much interest. So David 
sent to the elders of Judah, inquiring why there had 
not been more anxiety for his return on their part. 
He also deposed Joab, making Amasa commander 
in his place. This had the desired effect In humilia- 
ting Judah, and they sent a request for David's re- 
turn. So he came to Gllgal, where he was met by 

204 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— DAVID 

Judah; Shimei, who came to ask forgiveness for his 
bad treatment of David; Mephibosheth, who told 
David that he had been misrepresented by his serv- 
ant Ziba, and a multitude of Israel, by all of whom 
David was conducted to Jerusalem. 

19. The revolt under Sheba (2 Sam. 20:1-26). 
But, as the ten tribes had not received invitation to 
take part in the bringing back of the king, they were 
sorely displeased, and joined the standard of Sheba, 
a Benjamite, in a second revolt. David told Amasa 
to gather his army, pursue and defeat them. On the 
way, Joab took Amasa by the beard as if to kiss 
him, and thrust his sword into his bowels. Then, 
with his brother Abishai, he pursued Sheba and 
besieged him in the city of Abel, where his followers 
cut off his head and threw it over the wall to Joab, 
upon which Joab blew the trumpet and his army 
retired. 

20. The three years' famine (2 Sam. 21:1-14). 
There was a three years' famine in the land, and 
when David inquired of the Lord the cause, He 
replied that it w^as a judgment upon Israel because 
Saul had slain the Gibeonites. So, calling the Gibeon- 
ites, David requested them to tell him what he 
should do for them that they might be requited. 
They replied that as an atonement seven sons of the 
house of Saul should be delivered to them. This 
was complied with, and the Gibeonites hanged them 
to a tree, whereupon David disinterred the bones of 
Saul and Jonathan which had been burled at Jabesh- 
gilead, and deposited them, with the bodies of those 
hanged, in the sepulchre of Kish In Benjamin. 

21. The war with the Philistines (2 Sam. 21:15- 

205 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



22:51). There was war between Israel and the 
Philistines, and David went out at the head of his 
army. In the battle that ensued, he waxed faint and 
would have been slain by Ishi-benob, a son of Goliath, 
had it not been for Abishai, brother of Joab, who 
smote the Philistine and killed him. After this 
narrow escape, the men of Israel would not permit 
David to go to battle lest he be killed and the light 
of Israel be quenched. The children of Israel and 
the Philistines then met in battle at Gob, where 
Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, another of 
Goliath's sons. In a second battle at the same place, 
Elhanan, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of the 
giant. And, in still another battle in Gath, another 
son of Goliath, who had six fingers on each hand 
and six toes on each foot, was slain by Jonathan, a 
nephew of David. Following these victories, David 
sang his celebrated song of deliverance. 

22. David commits sin in numbering Israel (2 
Sam. 23:8-24:25; 1 Chron. 21:1-30). In all, David 
had thirty-seven mighty men who fought in his wars 
and shared in his victories. The Lord became angry 
with Israel and moved David to order them num- 
bered. The command was given to Joab, who, with 
his captains, passed through the entire host from 
Dan to Beer-sheba and returned to Jerusalem at the 
end of nine months and twenty days, and reported 
that there were in all eight hundred thousand valiant 
men in Israel and five hundred thousand in Judah.* 



* These are the figures given in 2 Samuel ; in 1 Chronicles the military 
strength of Israel is placed at 1,100,000 and of Judah at 470,000. The 
total military strength of Israel was probably 1,100,000, and that of Judah, 
500,000, while 800,000 and 470,000 were probably the number actually set 
in battle array. 

206 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— DAVID 

After this, David's heart smote him and he said to 
the Lord: "1 have sinned greatly in that I have 
done : and now, I beseech thee, O Lord, take away 
the iniquity of thy servant : for I have done very 
foolishly." Then the word of the Lord came to the 
prophet Gad, seer of David, and he was commanded 
to appear before the king and to tell him that the 
Lord offered him three things, one of which he was 
to choose : seven years of famine, three months of 
flight before his enemies or three days of pestilence 
throughout the land. To this David exclaimed: 'T 
am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand 
of the Lord ; for his mercies are great : and let me 
not fall into the hand of man." Then the Lord sent 
a pestilence upon Israel, and there fell seventy 
thousand men from Dan to Beer-sheba. David then 
purchased the threshing-floor of Araunah (Oman) 
the Jebusite, with oxen for burnt-offerings, and 
erected an altar, upon which he offered sacrifices, 
and interceded God, and the plague was stayed. 

23. Adonijah's plot (1 Kings 1:1-9). David was 
now very old and in failing strength, and Adonijah, 
son of Haggith and brother of Absalom, sought to 
take the kingdom. In this he was assisted by both 
Joab, the commander of David's army, and Abiathar, 
one of the priests, but was opposed by Zadok, one 
of the priests ; Nathan the prophet ; Benalah, son of 
Jehoiada, and Shimei and Rei, all of whom sup- 
ported Solomon. Adonijah made a feast and slew 
sheep, oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth 
by En-rogel, but to this he did not Invite those who 
supported Solomon. Then Nathan told Bath-sheba, 
Solomon's mother, to go before the king, remind him 

14 207 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



of his promise that Solomon should succeed him, 
and tell him of the attempted usurpation of Adonijah. 
This Bath-sheba did, and, while she was speaking, 
Nathan came in and confirmed what she said. Then 
David swore to Bath-sheba that Solomon should be 
his successor, and he commanded Zadok and Nathan 
to take him to Gihon, where they were to anoint 
him king over all Israel, blow the trumpet and say; 
"God save king Solomon." 

24. Solomon anointed (1 Kings 1:10-40; 1 Chron. 
29:22). Zadok and Nathan complied with this com- 
mand and, with those who were loyal to Solomon, 
took him down to Gihon, where Zadok took a horn 
of oil out of the Tabernacle and anointed him king 
over Israel. When they blew the trumpet, all the 
people shouted, "God save King Solomon," and piped 
with pipes and rejoiced with great joy. 

25. Adonijah submits (1 Kings 1:41-53). Hearing 
what had been done, Jonathan, son of Abiathar, went 
and told Adonijah, who, with those who were with 
him, was terribly afraid, and he went and caught 
hold of the horns of the altar. When Solomon heard 
what Adonijah had done, he said: "If he will show 
himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him 
fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in 
him, he shall die." He then sent for Adonijah, who 
came bowing before him and who was commanded 
by the king to return to his own house. 

26. The death of David (1 Kings 2: Ml ; 1 Chron. 
29:26-30). The day of David's death drew nigh, and, 
charging Solomon to remember Joab for having slain 
Abner and Amasa, his captains, Shimei, son of Gera, 
for having cursed him, and Barzillai the Gileadite, for 

208 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— DAVID 

his kindness to him, he slept with his fathers and was 
buried in Jerusalem. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the general outline of this study. What 13 the meaning 
of the name "David"? Give the condition of the limes in which 
David lived. Give the name of David's father. What was 
David's youthful occupation? Give the circumstances of his 
anointing. How did he happen to be admitted to Saul's court? 
Tell about him slaying Goliath. Who was - Jonathan ? What 
kind of a covenant did he make with David? Why did Saul be- 
come jealous of David? Give the name of Saul's daughter who 
became David's wife. Why did Saul give her to David? Did 
she prove true to her husband? When David fled from Saul, 
what did he first do? Who warned him of Saul's wrath, and 
how? Who was the king of the Philistines at this time? In 
what cave did David find refuge? How many men did he have 
with him there? Tell about David's difficulty with Nabal. Give 
the name of Nabal's wife. Whose wife did she become after 
Nabal's death? How many times did David spare Saul's life? 
Give the circumstances of each. Over what tribe did he reign 
at first? Where? Why did David bless the men of Jabesh-gilead? 
Tell about the war between Judah and Israel. Tell about Abner's 
desertion and death. Who was Ish-bosheth? By whom was he 
murdered? Tell about David assuming the throne of all Israel. 
Tell about the bringing up of the ark to Jerusalem. What did 
David desire to build? What nations did David subdue during 
his reign? Tell about David's treatment of Mephibosheth. Tell 
about the Ammonite-Syrian war. What was David's great sin? 
Who was the mother of Solomon? Name the capital of the 
Ammonites. Who was Amnon? What awful sin did he com- 
mit? Who slew him? Where did Absalom flee? How was he 
recalled? Tell about Absalom's ungratefulness. Tell about 
David's flight. How was the counsel of Ahithophel defeated and 
what did Ahithophel do ? Tell about the death of Absalom. How 
did David take Absalom's death? Tell about David's return to 
Jerusalem. Who led a second revolt against David, and why? 
What was the cause of the three years' famine? Tell about 

209 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



David's last war with the Philistines. What sin did David com- 
mit just before his death? What son of David tried to subvert 
the kingdom? What relation did he bear to Absalom? Tell 
about Solomon's anointing. What did Adonijah do? What did 
David do just before he died? Where was David buried? 



210 



STUDY XXL THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM 
—SOLOMON 

(2 Sam. 12:24-1 Kings 11:43; 1 Chron. 22:5- 
2 Chron. 9:31) 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The meaning of the name "Solomon." The 

name "Solomon" means ''pacific." 

2. The condition of the times. Under David the 
kingdom of Israel had greatly widened its bounds, 
and when Solomon took the throne, it was at the 
zenith of its greatness and glory. But, during his 
reign, the seeds of disintegration and decay were 
sown which sprang up and caused the disruption 
which immediately followed his death. While Sol- 
omon was a wise man, h^e is not to be compared with 
his father as a monarch. The nations outside of 
Israel were very corrupt and immoral, and their re- 
ligious ceremonies almost beggar description. These 
corruptions Solomon fell into, and they were the 
means of the breaking up of the kingdom. 

3. The time of Solomon's reign. Solomon reigned 
between the years 1015 and 975 B. C. 

I. THE EARLY LIFE OF SOLOMON 

1. The birth of Solomon (2 Sam. 12:24, 25). Sol- 
omon was the son of David and Bath-sheba, and was 
born at Jerusalem. To him the prophet Nathan gave 
the name of Jedidiah. 

211 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



2. The plot of Adonijah (1 Kings 1:5-38). In 
the preceding study we saw how Adonijah, another 
son of David by Haggith, sought to take the king- 
dom. This was prevented by Zadok, Nathan and 
other supporters of Solomon. 

3. Solomon anointed king (1 Kings 1:39, 40). 
Following this, by command of David, Solomon was 
anointed king by Zadok and, when this was an- 
nounced by the blowing of the trumpet, all the people 
shouted: "God save king Solomon." 

4. The submission of Adonijah (1 Kings 1:41-53). 
When Adonijah heard that Solomon had been 
anointed king, he went and caught hold of the horns 
of the altar. This being told Solomon, he said that if 
Adonijah would prove himself a man, he would spare 
his life. Hearing this, Adonijah went in where Sol- 
omon was and bowed himself before him. 

5. David's charge to Solomon (1 Kings 2:1-9). 
David charged Solomon that he should be strong and 
show himself a man, that he should observe the law 
of the Lord, and that he should take vengeance on 
certain of his father's enemies and show mercy to 
certain of his friends. 

6. The death of David (1 Kings 2: 10, 11 ; 1 Chron. 
29:26-30). Then David slept with his fathers and 
was buried in Jerusalem. 

II. SOLOMON'S ACCESSION AND EARLY 
REIGN 

1. Solomon takes the throne (1 Kings 2:12; 1 
Chron. 29:23-25). Immediately following the death 
of David, Solomon took the throne and "his kingdom 
was greatly established." 

212 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— SOLOMON 

2. The execution of Adonijah (1 Kings 2:13-25). 
Adonijah went to Bath-sheba and petitioned her to 
intercede with Solomon to give to him Abishag, the 
Shunammite, to wife. Bath-sheba told this to the 
king, who became very wroth and sent Benaiah to 
slay Adonijah. 

3. Abiathar deposed (1 Kings 2:26, 27). Solomon 
also commanded Abiathar the priest to depart to his 
own fields, telling him that he was worthy of death, 
but promising him that he would not slay him be- 
cause he bore the ark of the Lord. 

4. The death of Joab (1 Kings 2:28-34). When 
Joab heard of these things, he fled to the Tabernacle 
of the Lord and caught hold of the horns of the altar. 
But this did not save him, and Solomon commanded 
Benaiah to fall upon him and slay him. Benaiah 
went to the Tabernacle and commanded Joab to come 
forth, but he replied that he would die there. So, in 
obedience to Solomon's orders, Benaiah fell upon him 
and slew him, and he was buried in his own house 
in the wilderness. 

5. The elevation of Benaiah and Zadok (1 Kings 
2:35). Benaiah was then made commander-in-chief 
of the arm.ies of Israel in the place of Joab, and Zadok 
priest in the place of Abiathar. 

6. The execution of Shimei (1 Kings 2:36-46). 
After this, Solomon called Shimei to him and com- 
manded him to build himself a house in the city of 
Jerusalem, and forbade him leaving the city, telling 
him that whenever he passed over the brook Kidron 
he should be put to death. Shimei assented to this, 
but, after three years, when two of his servants fled 
to Achish, king of Gath, he followed them. Upon his 

213 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



return, it was told Solomon that he had been out 
of the city, which so enraged the king that he com- 
manded Benaiah to slay him. 

7. Solomon makes an alliance with Pharaoh (1 
Kings 3:1-3). Solomon made an alliance with the 
king of Egypt and married his daughter, whom he 
brought into the city of Jerusalem. 

8. Solomon sacrifices at Gibeon (1 Kings 3:4; 
2 Chron. 1:2-6). The account is that Solomon loved 
the Lord and walked in the statutes of his father 
David, only he offered sacrifices and burnt incense in 
high places. For this purpose he went down to 
Gibeon, where he made a thousand burnt-offerings. 

9. Solomon prays for wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15; 2 
Chron. 1:7-16). At Gibeon the Lord appeared unto 
Solomon in a dream and said : **Ask what I shall give 
thee." To which Solomon replied: "Give therefore 
thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy peo- 
ple, that I may discern between good and bad: for 
who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" 
This speech pleased the Lord and he gave Solomon 
an understanding heart. When Solomon awoke, he 
returned to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the 
covenant, where he offered burnt-offerings and peace- 
offerings and made a feast unto all his servants. 

10. Solomon decides a question of mothership (1 
Kings 3 : 16-28). Two women came to Solomon with a 
babe which each claimed as her own. They lived in 
the same house and to each a child had been born, 
the birth being three days apart. The complaint of 
one was that the child of the other had died and that, 
while they slept, the mother of the dead child had ex- 
changed it for the living. This the other emphatically 

214 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— SOLOMON 

denied. When Solomon heard their stories, he 
ordered a sword to be brought and commanded that 
the Hving child should be divided. At this command, 
the heart of the one woman who made the com- 
plaint yearned, and she exclaimed: "O my lord, give 
her the living child, and in no wise slay it/' But the 
other said: "Let it be neither mine nor thine, but 
divide it." Solomon, upon discerning this exhibition 
of the mother instinct on the part of the first, said: 
"Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: 
she is the mother thereof." 

11. Solomon's official cabinet (1 Kings 4:1-28). 
The officials under Solomon were Azariah, son of 
Zadok, the chief prince ; Elihoreph and Ahiah, scribes ; 
Jehoshaphat, recorder ; Benaiah, commander of the 
host; Zadok and Abiathar, priests; Azariah, son of 
Nathan, chief of the officers; Zabud, principal officer 
and king's friend; Ahishar, who looked after the 
household; Adoniram, collector of the tribute, and 
twelve commissaries who provided victuals for the 
king's house. 

12. Solomon's wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34). Sol- 
omon's wisdom excelled that of all the children of the 
east country and even that of Egypt. He spake three 
thousand proverbs and composed a thousand and five 
songs. His fame was so great that representatives from 
all the nations of the earth came to visit him at Jeru- 
salem. 

III. SOLOMON BUILDS THE TEMPLE 

1. Preparations for the building of the Temple (1 

Kings 5:1-18; 2 Chron. 2:1-18). Hiram, king of 
Tyre, heard that Solomon had ascended the throne 

215 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



and sent to him a deputation of his servants with 
his congratulations. Solomon replied to him by say- 
ing that he intended to build a house to the name of 
his God, and requested him to furnish Sidonian 
artisans, who were more skillful than the workmen of 
Israel, to hew for this purpose the cedars of Lebanon, 
offering at the same time to raise a force of his own 
servants to assist them and to pay Hiram adequate 
wages for their services. Hiram was greatly pleased 
when he received this information, and made arrange- 
ments with Solomon to raise the required force of 
men. Solomon then raised a force of thirty thousand 
men in Israel whom he divided into three courses of 
ten thousand each, each course being required to work 
every third month in Lebanon, Besides these, Solomon 
had seventy thousand others who bore burdens, 
and eighty thousand hewers in the mountains. Ado- 
niram was over the levy, while thirty-three hundred 
officers were over those who wrought in the moun- 
tains. Along with the preparation of the cedars, 
Solomon commanded that great stones be brought, 
which were cut for the foundation by his servants 
and those of Tyre. 

2. The Temple built (1 Kings 6:1-38; 2 Chron. 
3:1-4:22). In the 480th year after the children of 
Israel had come out of Egypt, and in the fourth year 
of Solomon's reign, he began to build the house of 
the Lord upon Mount Moriah. It was ninety feet 
long, thirty feet wide and forty-five feet high, and was 
built of stone, prepared before it was brought upon 
the ground, and was provided with windows and with 
chambers built around the walls without. The porch 

before the Temple was thirty feet long by fifteen 

216 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— SOLOMON 

wide. On the inside, the floors were of cypress 
wood, and the sides and ceilings were of cedar, all 
of which were covered with gold. The Holy Place and 
the Holy of Holies were separated from each other 
by boards of cedar, which were, doubtless, also 
covered with the precious metal. This cedar parti- 
tion was pierced with an opening over which hung 
a veil. The furniture of the Temple proper was over- 
laid with gold and was of larger dimensions than the 
furniture of the Tabernacle. The Temple, like the 
Tabernacle, was inclosed with a court, which, in the 
Book of Kings, is called the "inner court," and which 
was built of three rows of hewn stones and a row of 
cedar beams. This court was inclosed within another 
court, the walls of which were also made of stone. 
At the expiration of seven years the Temple was 
completed. 

3. Solomon erects other buildings (1 Kings 7:1- 
51). In addition to the temple, Solomon erected other 
buildings. The first mentioned was his own house, 
which was 150 feet long, seventy- five broad and 
forty-five high, and which was constructed of the 
same costly materials as those employed in building 
the Temple. Thirteen years were expended in the 
building of this house. The second structure men- 
tioned was the house of the forest of Lebanon, and the 
third was the house for Pharaoh's daughter. Some 
suppose, however, that these were not separate build- 
ings, but only parts of one great building. In all of 
these operations Solomon was assisted by Hiram, 
king of Tyre, who was brought to Jerusalem specially 
to oversee the work. 

4. The ark brought into the Temple (1 Kings 8: 

217 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



1-11; 2 Chron. 5:2-14). When the Temple was com- 
pleted, Solomon gathered together the chief men of 
Israel that they might bring the ark of the covenant 
from Mount Zion and place it in the Temple on 
Mount Moriah. This gathering occurred in the 
seventh month of the Jewish year on the date of the 
Feast of the Tabernacles. Those selected took up 
the ark, with the Tabernacle and all the vessels that 
were in the Tabernacle, and brought them to Moriah, 
where the ark was placed within the oracle. While 
this was being done, Solomon and the congregation 
offered sacrifices, and, when once the ark rested in its 
sacred place, the glory of the Lord filled the house. 

5. The dedicatory sermon (1 Kings 8:12-21; 2 
Chron. 6:1-11). Solomon then delivered his dedi- 
catory sermon, in which he recounted the blessings 
of the Lord and explained how the house came to be 
built. 

6. The dedicatory prayer (1 Kings 8:22-53; 2 
Chron. 6: 12-42). Solomon's sermon was followed by 
his dedicatory prayer. This was delivered with his 
hands spread out toward heaven, while he stood be- 
fore the altar. In this prayer he thanked the Lord 
for his mercies in permitting the Temple to be 
erected, and petitioned him to forgive Israel's sins 
and to guide them in the future. 

7. The dedicatory blessing (1 Kings 8:54-61). 
After the dedicatory prayer, Solomon arose and pro- 
nounced a blessing upon himself and his people, en- 
joining them to walk in the statutes and to keep the 
commandments of the Lord. 

8. The dedicatory sacrifices (1 Kings 8:62-66). 
During the dedicatory services, Solomon offered a 

218 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— SOLOMON 

peace-offering of twenty-two thousand oxen and one 
hundred and twenty thousand sheep. Also burnt- 
offerings and meat-offerings in the middle of the court, 
the brazen altar being too small for the occasion. At 
this same time, all Israel, from the entering in at 
Hamath to the river of Egypt, observed a feast for 
fourteen days, and there was great rejoicing through- 
out the land. 

IV. THE LAST YEARS OF SOLOMON'S 
REIGN 

1. Jehovah appears again to Solomon (1 Kings 
9:1-9; 2 Chron. 7:12-22). The Lord appeared again 
to Solomon as He he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 
He told him that He had heard his supplications, that 
He had hallowed the house which he had built, and 
that, if Solomon would keep His statutes and judg- 
ments. He would establish his throne forever. But, 
if he failed to keep His commandments and if Israel 
went after other gods, He would cut Israel off from 
the land which He had given her, and she should be 
a proverb and a byword among the people. 

2. Solomon's unsatisfactory gift to Hiram (1 Kings 
9: 10-14). At the end of twenty years, during which 
time he had built the house of the Lord and his own 
house, Solomon gave to Hiram, king of Tyre, twenty 
cities in Galilee in return for the cedar, fir and gold 
which he had furnished the Temple. But this gift 
displeased Hiram, and he called the cities Cabul, 
^'displeasing." 

3. Further enterprises of Solomon (1 Kings 9: 
15-28; 2 Chron. 8:1-18). Among the other enter- 
prises in which Solomon engaged, was the building of 

219 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, Gezer, 
Beth-horon, Baalath and Tadmor in the wilderness. 

4. The visit of the queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10: 
1-13; 2 Chron. 9:1-12). The queen of Sheba, in 
southern Arabia, having heard of the wisdom of Solo- 
mon, came to Jerusalem in all her pomp and glory- 
to see him. When Solomon had answered all her 
questions, and when she had seen the house which he 
had built for the glory of his kingdom, "there was 
no more spirit in her," and she confessed that, though 
she had doubted the stories which had been told her, 
the half had not been told. After exchanging gifts 
with Solomon, she returned to her own country. 

5. The resources of Solomon (1 Kings 10:14-29; 
2 Chron. 9: 13-28). In one year there came to Solo- 
mon 666 talents of gold, besides what came into his 
treasury for mercantile enterprises, and as tribute 
from the surrounding nations and as taxes from his 
own country. He made two hundred targets of 
beaten gold, six hundred shekels of gold to each, and 
three hundred shields of beaten gold, three pounds of 
gold to each shield. He also made a throne of ivory 
which was covered with beaten gold, and all the ves- 
sels of his house were of the same metal. He had a 
navy upon the sea which, once in three years, brought 
from Tarshish gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks. 
He also had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve 
thousand horsemen. 

6. Solomon turns away from the Lord (1 Kings 
11 : 1-8). In his old age Solomon loved many strange 
women. Of these, besides the daughter of Pharaoh, 
there were women of the Moabites, Ammonites, 
Edomites, Zidonians and Hittites. He had, in all, 

220 



THE UNDIVIDED KINGDOM— SOLOMON 

seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, 
and these turned his heart away from the Lord unto 
other gods, and he worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess 
of the Zidonians, and Milcom, the abomination of the 
Ammonites, and he built a high place to Chemosh, 
the abomination of Moab, and another to Molech, a 
god of Ammon. To all of these gods he burned in- 
cense and sacrificed. 

7. The Lord's anger toward Solomon (1 Kings 11 : 
9-25). The Lord became angry with Solomon be- 
cause his heart had departed from Him, and He told 
him that as he had failed to keep His commandments, 
He would rend his kingdom from him and give it 
unto his servant, though not in his day because of his 
promise to David, but after his death, when it should 
be taken from his son, only one tribe remaining faith- 
ful to him. The Lord also raised up against Solomon, 
Hadad the Edomite and Rezon the Syrian, who 
hampered him all his days. 

8. The rise of Jeroboam (1 Kings 11 : 26-40). But 
these foes without were not the only enemies that 
Solomon had, for Jeroboam, son of Nebat, an Eph- 
raimite and servant of Solomon, also lifted up his hand 
against him. As Jeroboam was going out of the 
city, clad in a new garment, he met Ahijah the 
prophet, who caught hold of his garment and rent it 
into twelve pieces, saying, at the same time, to Jero- 
boam : "Take thee ten pieces." The prophet then ex- 
plained that the Lord would rend the kingdom from 
the house of Solomon and give ten tribes to him, 
promising him that, if he would keep the command- 
ments of the Lord, He would establish his house as 
He had that of David. When Solomon had heard 

221 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



what Ahijah had said, he sought to slay Jeroboam, 
but he fled to Shishak, king of Egypt, and remained 
there until after Solomon's death. 

9. The death of Solomon (1 Kings 11:41-43; 2 
Chron. 9:29-31). After reigning over Israel for forty 
years, Solomon died and was buried in the city of 
David, and Rehoboam, his son, took the throne. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the general outline of this study. What is the meaning 
of the name "Solomon" ? Give the conditions of his times. When 
did he reign? Give the name of his mother. Who conspired to 
take the throne? Who anointed Solomon king? What did the 
people say? What did Adonijah do? Give the substance of 
David's charge to Solomon. What the condition of the kingdom 
when Solomon took it? Why was Adonijah executed? Why 
was Abiathar deposed and why was he not slain? Tell about the 
death of Joab. Who took the places of Abiathar and Joab? Tell 
about the execution of Shimei. How did Solomon confirm an 
alliance with the king of Egypt? What did Solomon do at 
Gibeon? What request did he make of the Lord? How did 
Solomon decide a question of mothership? Name Solomon's 
official cabinet. What ruler did Solomon engage to assist him 
in building the Temple? Tell about the arrangements. In what 
year of Solomon's reign was the Temple begun? Where was it 
built? Of what was it made? Give its dimensions. How long 
was Solomon in building it? What other buildings did Solomon 
erect? Tell about the bringing of the ark into the Temple. Tell 
about the dedicatory services. What promise did the Lord 
make to Solomon after the building of the Temple? Tell about 
Solomon's unsatisfactory gift to Hiram. Tell about the visit 
of the queen of Sheba. How many wives and concubines did 
Solomon have? What did they cause him to do? To what 
nations did they belong? Name some of their gods. How 
did the Lord feel toward Solomon because of this? Who was 
Jeroboam? What prophecy did Ahijah deliver to him? What 
did Solomon attempt to do? Where did Jeroboam flee? How 
long did Solomon reign? 

222 



STUDY XXII. THE DIVIDED KINGDOM- 
ISRAEL 

(1 Kings 12:1-2 Kings 17:41; 2 Chron. 10:1-2 
Chron. 28:15) 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The causes of the division. The causes of the 
division between Israel and Judah may be said to 
have been two : the idolatrous practices of the people 
during the last years of Solomon's reign, and the 
arbitrary measures of his son and successor, Reho- 
boam. 

2. The advantages of the northern kingdom. The 
kingdom of Israel had many advantages over the 
kingdom of Judah. It was composed of ten, out of 
the original twelve, tribes, excepting the Levites and 
individuals out of the ten who remained loyal to the 
standard of David and the religion of their fathers. 
It outnumbered Judah nearly three to one in popu- 
lation and was superior in military power. It also 
possessed a more fertile soil. 

3. The kings of Israel. Israel was ruled over by 
nineteen kings, constituting nine dynasties. These 
kings were all bad men, although two of them, 
Jehoash and Hoshea, were better than the rest. 

4. The period of the kingdom. The period of the 
northern kingdom lay between the years 975 and 721 
B. C, Usher's chronology. 

15 223 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



I. THE REIGN OF JEROBOAM 

1. The return of Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:1-15; 2 
Chron. 10:1-11). When Jeroboam heard that Solo- 
mon was dead and that his son was to be made king, 
he returned from Egypt, and with the children of 
Israel went to Shechem, where Rehoboam was, and 
demanded that he lighten the burdens of his people. 
Rehoboam refused to do this. 

2. The accession of Jeroboam^ (1 Kings 12: 16-24; 
2 Chron. 10:12-11:4). When the children of Israel 
heard Rehoboam's refusal, they cried: "What portion 
have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the 
son of Jesse : to your tents, O Israel : now see to 
thine own house, David." They then called Jeroboam 
and made him king over Israel. 

3. Jeroboam institutes idolatrous worship (1 Kings 
12:25-33). After this, Jeroboam built Shechem in 
Mount Ephraim and dwelt therein. He reasoned that 
if the children of Israel went up to Jerusalem to sac- 
rifice, their hearts would be turned against him and 
unto Rehoboam, so he made two calves of gold and 
said: "Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee 
up out of the land of Egypt." One of these calves 
he set up in Bethel and the other in Dan, and he ap- 
pointed priests of the lowest of the people, who were 
not of the tribe of Levi, and built high places and 
instituted a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth 
month, similar to the Feast of Tabernacles that was 
observed in Judah. 

4. Destruction of the altar foretold (1 Kings 13: 
1-10). As Jeroboam stood by the altar of burnt in- 

» Usher: 975-954 B. C. Kamphausen: 937-916 B. C. 
224 



The 
KINGDOMS 

ISRAEL & JUOAH 



4^ 

Sidon, 



Zarepha 



n 



ft f 

Hazor « 



^v<b> •T 
LSaS^la* ^ ^ 










Ashdod/^ 



V-, > •^Jeshana O'DA^' ^^^ 
. \ Bethel ^ '- y" 

J^>^8alem« Vpsi^ 




ihlahem • % 



rJttiUSTl^S 



V ^^^^'^ Hebron ^ 





225 



a:HE GIST OF THE BiBLEi 



cense at Bethel, there came a man out of Judah who 
cried against the altar: *'0 altar, altar, thus saith the 
Lord; Behold a child shall be born unto the house of 
David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer 
the priests of the high places that burn incense upon 
thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee." He 
then gave as a sign that the altar should be rent and 
the ashes thereon should be poured out. When Jero- 
boam heard these sayings of the man of God, he put 
forth his hand from the altar, saying: "Lay hold on 
him." At this his hand was dried up and the altar was 
rent. Then, in terror, he called upon the man of God 
to pray for him, which he did with the result that 
Jeroboam's hand was restored. After this, the man of 
God was invited into Jeroboam's house, but he re- 
fused the invitation and started back toward Judah. 
5. The disobedience and death of the man of God 
(1 Kings 13: 11-32). There was a certain old prophet 
who dwelt at Bethel, and, when his sons had told 
him of all the things that the man of God had done, 
he went in haste after him and found him sitting be- 
neath an oak. He asked him to return with him, but 
this the man of God at first refused to do, although 
he acceded after the prophet had told him that an 
angel had appeared to him and said : "Bring him back 
with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and 
drink water." But, when they had reached the 
prophet's house and had sat down to eat, the prophet 
cried unto the man of God: "Thus saith the Lord, 
Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the 
Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the 
Lord thy God commanded thee, but camest back, and 
hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place of 

226 



tHE £>iVIDfeD KiNGDOlVf— ISRAEL 

which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and 
drink no water, thy carcase shall not come unto the 
sepulchre of thy fathers." This prophecy was soon 
fulfilled, for, as the man of God was returning, a lion 
met him and slew him and stood by his carcass. The 
prophet, hearing that he was dead, went and brought 
his body to Bethel and laid it in his own grave with 
much mourning, saying, "Alas, my brother!" He 
then said to his sons : "When I am dead, then bury 
me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is 
buried; lay my bones beside his bones." 

6. A prophecy against Jeroboam (1 Kings 13:33- 
14:18). Notwithstanding his experience, Jeroboam 
persisted in his idolatrous practice, yet there remained 
in him confidence in the prophet Ahijah, at Shiloh, 
and when his son Abijah fell sick, he disguised his 
wife and sent her to the prophet to discover what 
would become of the child. Now, Ahijah was old and 
could not see, but the Lord warned him of the decep- 
tion, and when Jeroboam's wife came to his door, he 
said: "Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest 
thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with 
heavy tidings." He then told her that whereas the 
Lord had rent the kingdom from the house of David 
and had given it to Jeroboam, but he had not walked 
after His commandments, but had gone after other 
gods and had made molten images. He would cut off 
his seed, and that eventually Israel herself would be 
scattered. He then sent the woman away and, when 
she reached the door of her house, Abijah died. 

7. The war between Abijam and Jeroboam (1 
Kings 15:7; 2 Chron. 13:3-19). When Abijam as- 
cended the throne of Judah, war was begun between 

227 



THE GIST 6F the BIBLE 



him and Jeroboam. In this conflict, Jeroboam was 
defeated and lost five hundred thousand chosen men, 
and was forced to relinquish Bethel, Jeshanah and 
Ephrain with the towns thereof. 

8. Death of Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:19, 20; 2 
Chron. 13:20). After reigning twenty-two years, 
Jeroboam slept with his fathers, and Nadab, his son, 
reigned in his stead. 

II. THE REIGN OF NADAB 

(1 Kings 15:25-27) 

Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, began to reign over 
Israel in the second year of Asa, king of Judah.^ He 
reigned two years, did that which was evil in the 
sight of the Lord, and was slain by Baasha, of the 
house of Issachar, at Gibbethon, where he was be- 
sieging the Philistines. 

III. THE REIGN OF BAASHA 

1. The accession of Baasha (1 Kings 15:28). 
Baasha began to reign in the third year of Asa, king 
of Judah.' 

2. Destruction of Jeroboam's house (1 Kings 15: 
27-31). Baasha not only slew Nadab, but also all the 
house of Jeroboam, in fulfillment of the prophecy of 
Ahijah. 

3. The war between Baasha and Asa (1 Kings 15: 
32-34; 2 Chron. 16:1-6). There was war between 
Baasha and Asa all their days, and Baasha did evil 
in the sight of the Lord and caused Israel to sin 



1 Usher: 954-953 B. C. Kamphausen: 915-914 B. C. 

2 Usher: 953-930 B. C. Kamphausen: 914-891 B. C. 

228 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— ISRAEL 

4. The death of Baasha (1 Kings 16:6). After 
reigning over Israel for twenty-four years, Baasha 
died and was buried at Tirzah, and Elah, his son, 
took the throne. 

IV. THE REIGN OF ELAH 

(1 Kings 16:8-14) 

Elah began to reign over Israel in the twenty- 
sixth year of Asa, king of Judah, and reigned two 
years,^ when he was slain by Zimri, a captain of his 
chariots, while he was drunken in the house of Arza, 
steward of his house in Tirzah. 

V. THE REIGN OF ZIMRI 

(1 Kings 16:11-20) 

The first act of Zimri's reign was the putting to 
death of all the house of Baasha. When this became 
known to Israel, who were besieging Gibbethon, 
they made Omri, captain of the host, king, and he 
besieged Tirzah. Zimri, seeing that the city was 
besieged, went into the king's palace and set it on 
fire, and so died after reigning only seven days.* 

VI. THE REIGN OF OMRI 

(1 Kings 16:21-28) 

Omri began to reign over Israel in the thirty- 
first year of Asa, king of Judah, and reigned twelve 
years — six years in Tirzah.' He bought the hill 
Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, 



1 Usher: 930-929 B. C. Kamphausen: 891-890 B. C. 
'Usher: 929 B. C. Kamphausen: 890 B. C. 
'Usher: 929-918 B. C Kamphausen: 890-879 B. C. 
229 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



built a city upon it and called the name of it Samaria. 
He was a very wicked man, doing worse than all 
that were before him. He was buried in Samaria. 

VII. THE REIGN OF AHAB 

1. The accession and marriage of Ahab (1 Kings 
16:28-34). Upon the death of Omri, Ahab, his son, 
took the throne in the thirty-eighth year of Asa, 
king of Judah.' He was even more wicked than 
his father, and took to wife Jezebel, daughter of 
Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians, and built an altar 
and made a grove to the worship of Baal. 

2. The rise of Elijah (1 Kings 17:1). At this 
time there arose Elijah the Tishbite, an inhabitant 
of Gilead, who prophesied to Ahab that there should 
be no rain or dew upon the land for years, except 
according to his word. 

3. Elijah flees to Cherith (1 Kings 17:2-7). By 
the command of the Lord, Elijah fled to Cherith, 
where he was fed by the ravens night and morning 
and drank from the brook. 

4. Elijah goes to Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16). 
When the brook of Cherith dried up, Elijah went 
to Zarephath, in Zidon. At the gate of this city he 
met a widow gathering sticks, whom he asked to 
fetch him water to drink and a morsel of food to eat. 
The woman replied that all she had was a handful 
of meal and a little oil, and that she was gathering 
sticks to prepare these that she and her son might 
eat and die. But Elijah assured her that, if she 
hearkened to him, the meal would not waste nor the 



» Usher: 918-897 B. C. Kamphausen: 878-857 B. C. 
230 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— ISRAEL 

oil fail during the entire famine. This was fulfilled 
according to his word. 

5. Elijah raises the widow's son (1 Kings 17: 
17-24). After this, the son of the widow fell very 
sick, and she inquired of Elijah if he had come to 
bring her sin to remembrance and to slay her son. 
At this Elijah demanded the child, and, taking him 
up into the loft and laying him on his bed, he cried 
to the Lord and inquired if He had brought this 
evil upon the widow. He then stretched himself 
upon the child and said: "O Lord my God, I pray 
thee, let this child's soul come into him again.'' The 
Lord heard the petition and the child revived, and, 
when he was delivered to his mother, she confessed 
that the prophet was a man of God. 

6. Elijah meets Ahab (1 Kings 18:1-16). The 
famine continued for three years, and the Lord com- 
manded Elijah to show himself to Ahab, promising 
him that when he did He would send rain upon the 
earth. Ahab had a governor over his house, Obadiah 
by name, a godly man, whom he sent out to find 
pasturage and water for his horses and mules. As 
Obadiah was attending to this matter, he met Elijah, 
who commanded him to return and say: "Behold, 
Elijah is here." Obadiah reluctantly did this, and 
Ahab went out to meet him. 

7. Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18: 
17-41). When Ahab met Elijah, he inquired: "Art 
thou he that troubleth Israel?" Elijah answered that 
it was not he that troubled Israel, but Ahab and his 
father's house, who followed after Baalim. He then 
told Ahab to gather together all Israel, 450 of the 
prophets of Baal and 400 of the prophets of the 

231 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



grove upon Mount Carmel. When this was done, 
Elijah further proposed that he and the prophets of 
Baal should each take a bullock, cut it in pieces, 
erect an altar, lay wood upon the altar and the sacri- 
fice upon the wood, and then that each should cry to 
his God, and that the God who answered with fire 
should be God. This was agreed to, and the prophets 
of Baal prepared their sacrifice, but, although they 
cried from morning until noon, "Baal, hear us," no 
response came. Then Elijah mocked them, saying: 
"Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or 
he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure 
he sleepeth, and must be awaked." But, although 
they cried louder, and cut themselves with knives 
and lancets, the fire did not fall. When they had 
failed, Elijah took twelve stones, built an altar and 
dug a trench around it. On the altar he placed the 
pieces of the bullock and drenched the whole two 
times with water. Then, at the time of the evening" 
sacrifice, he called upon the Lord, and fire came 
down and consumed not only the sacrifice, but also 
the altar, and licked up the water. Seeing this, the 
people exclaimed: "The Lord, he is God." And, at 
Elijah's command, they took the prophets of Baal 
down to the brook Kishon, where he slew them all. 
He then commanded Ahab to return, assuring him 
that there was a sound of an abundance of rain. 

8. Elijah on Carmel (1 Kings 18:42-46). Ahab 
departed, and Elijah went up into Mount Carmel, 
and, casting himself to the ground, put his face 
between his knees and commanded his servant to go 
to the summit and look toward the sea. This his 
servant did, but saw nothing. Elijah then told him 

232 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— ISRAEL 

to repeat it seven times, and on the seventh he came 
back and told the prophet that a cloud had risen 
out of the sea the size of a man's hand. Upon hear- 
ing this, Elijah commanded his servant to go to 
Ahab and tell him to prepare his chariot and get 
down from the mountain that the rain might not 
stop him. He then girded his loins and ran before 
Ahab to Jezreel. 

9. Jezebers threat (1 Kings 19: 1-7). When Ahab 
told Jezebel what Elijah had done to the prophets 
of Baal, she became very angry and said: "So let 
the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy 
life as the life of one of them by to morrow about 
this time." This threat was carried to Elijah, and 
he fled to Beer-sheba in Judah, where he left his 
servant, and from there continued his flight a day's 
journey into the wilderness, where he sat down 
under a juniper-tree and requested the Lord to let 
him die. As he slept, an angel came and, touch- 
ing him, said, "Arise and eat," and when he arose 
he saw a cake on the coals and a cruse of water, 
and he ate and drank and went in the strength of 
that meat forty days and forty nights. 

10. Elijah at Horeb (1 Kings 19:8-18). Elijah 
departed from the wilderness into Mount Horeb, 
where he lodged in a cave. The Lord appeared to 
him and inquired what he was doing there. He 
replied that he had been very jealous for the Lord 
of hosts, for the children of Israel had forsaken His 

,ovenant, broken down His altars, slain His prophets, 
and he alone was left aHve, though they also sought 
his life. The Lord then commanded Elijah to go 
out upon the mountain, and, when he had obeyed, 

233 



*rHfi GIST O^ TliE BiBLEi 



a strong wind rent the mountain, "but the Lord 
was not in the wind: and after the wind an earth- 
quake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 
and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was 
not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." 
Then the Lord told Elijah that he was jealous with 
Israel because of what it had done, and commanded 
him to go to Damascus and anoint Hazael king of 
Syria, and then to return and anoint Jehu king of 
Israel, and EHsha as his successor; telling him that 
those who escaped Hazael, Jehu should slay, and 
those who escaped Jehu, Elisha should slay; still the 
Lord told him that there were left in Israel seven 
thousand men who had not bowed the knee to Baal. 

11. The call of Elisha (1 Kings 19: 19-21). Elijah 
started as he was bidden and found Elisha, the son 
of Shaphat, plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. Elijah 
cast his mantle upon him and he left his oxen and ran 
after the prophet, crying: "Let me, I pray thee, kiss 
my father and my mother, and then I will follow 
thee." To this request the prophet replied: "Go 
back again : for what have I done to thee ?" Then 
Elisha returned, slew a yoke of oxen, boiled their 
flesh, gave it to the people to eat, and arose and 
went after Elijah. 

12. Ahab*s first war with Syria (1 Kings 20:1- 
22). Ben-hadad, king of Syria, made war with Ahab 
and besieged Samaria. He sent a messenger to 
Ahab, who was in the city, telling him that his 
family and possessions belonged to him. To this 
Ahab at first agreed. Then Ben-hadad sent him 
word that on the morrow he should deliver up his 
wives, children, silver and gold. Upon receiving this 

234 



'THE DIVIDED KlKGiDOM— 1S]&AEL 

message, Ahab called the elders of Israel together, 
who, when they had heard the demands of the 
Syrian, told Ahab not to hearken nor consent to 
the proposal. Ahab's refusal was carried to Ben- 
hadad, who became very wroth and declared that 
he would destroy the city. Ahab replied to this 
threat in the following words: "Let not him that 
girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that put- 
teth it off." At this taunt the Syrian ordered his 
kings to set themselves in battle array against the 
city. Ahab was promised victory by a certain proph- 
et, and, sallying forth at the head of 232 princes and 
seven thousand fighting men, he fell upon the 
Syrians and routed them with great slaughter, al- 
though Ben-hadad himself escaped. Then the proph- 
et came to Ahab again and warned him to strengthen 
himself, telling him that at the return of the year 
the Syrians would repeat the invasion. 

13. Ahab's second war with Syria (1 Kings 20: 
23-43). Following his defeat, the servants of Ben- 
hadad said to him: ''Their gods are gods of the 
hills ; therefore they were stronger than we ; but let us 
fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be 
stronger than they." Ben-hadad then gathered an 
army like his first and went against Israel at Aphek. 
Here, notwithstanding the Israelites were vastly 
inferior to the Syrians in point of numbers, the army 
of the Syrians was again defeated with great slaugh- 
ter, and Ben-hadad, fleeing into the city, girded 
himself in sackcloth and, coming out to Ahab, 
pleaded for his life. He promised Ahab that, if he 
would spare him, he would restore the cities which 
his father had taken from Ahab's father and make 

235 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



streets for him in Damascus. Ahab agreed to this 
and sent him away. Then one of the sons of the 
prophets came to Ahab and said: "Because thou 
hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to 
utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his 
life, and thy people for his people." These words 
greatly distressed King Ahab. 

14. Jezebel has Naboth slain (1 Kings 21:1-16). 
There was a man of Jezreel, Naboth by name, who 
owned a vineyard near the palace of Ahab. Ahab 
coveted the vineyard and offered Naboth another, 
or its value in money, for it. But Naboth refused 
to dispose of it, as it was the inheritance of his 
fathers. Upon this refusal, Ahab went to his palace 
heavy and displeased, took to his bed and refused 
to eat. When Jezebel observed his sadness, she 
inquired the reason, and, when this was told her, 
she promised Ahab that she would get the vineyard 
for him. So she wrote letters in the king's name 
and signed them with his seal, directed to the elders 
and nobles, instructing them to proclaim a fast and 
to set Naboth on high among the people. When 
this was done, she had two of the sons of Belial 
make the charge against him that he had blas- 
phemed the name of God and of the king. With 
this, they took him out of the city and stoned him 
to death, and Ahab took possession of the coveted 
property. 

15. Elijah announces Ahab's doom (1 Kings 21: 
17-29). The word of the Lord now came to Elijah, 
and he went to Ahab and declared that for this 
great sin the Lord would bring evil upon him, cut 
off his posterity and make his house like the house 

236 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— ISRAEL 

of Jeroboam ; and also that the dogs should eat 
Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. At these words, 
Ahab rent his clothes, put sackcloth upon his flesh 
and fasted. The Lord then told Elijah that as Ahab 
had repented, he would not send the evils pronounced 
in his days, but in his son's days. 

16. Ahab's third war with Syria (1 Kings 22:1- 
40; 2 Chron. 18:1-34). There was peace between 
Israel and Syria for three years, at the expiration of 
which time Ahab secured the alliance of Jehoshaphat, 
king of Judah, so that he might take Ramoth-gilead 
out of the hands of the Syrians. Before starting out 
on this expedition, however, Ahab consulted four 
hundred lying prophets who told him to go up ; that 
the Lord would deliver Ramoth into his hands. 
Then, by the advice of Jehoshaphat, he consulted 
Micaiah, the only prophet of the Lord in his domain. 
But Micaiah, after trying in vain to conceal the 
real word of the Lord, frankly told him that he 
saw Israel scattered upon the hills as sheep without 
a shepherd. This message displeased Ahab, and he 
had Micaiah shut up in prison until he should return 
again in peace. The allied kings then went forth to 
battle, Ahab in disguise, while Jehoshaphat wore his 
royal robes. In the battle which ensued, Ahab was 
shot with an arrow between the joints of his harness 
and Israel was scattered, every man fleeing to his 
own city and country. The body of Ahab was 
brought back and was buried at Samaria, 

VIII. THE REIGN OF AHAZIAR 

1. The accession of Ahaziah (1 Kings 22:51). 
Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, began to reign in the 

237 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and 
reigned two years over Israel/ 

2. The character of Ahaziah (1 Kings 22:52, 53). 
He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, 
and walked in the way of his father and mother, 
worshiping Baal. 

3. The sickness and death of Ahaziah (2 Kings 
1:1-18). During the reign of Ahaziah, Moab re- 
belled against Israel, and Ahaziah fell through the 
lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria and injured 
himself. He then sent messengers to Baal-zebub, 
god of Ekron, to inquire if he would recover. On 
the way, these messengers met Elijah, who said: "Is 
it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye 
go to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?" He 
then told them to say to Ahaziah: "Thou shalt not 
come down from that bed on which thou art gone 
up, but shalt surely die." When this was told 
Ahaziah, he sent a captain and fifty men against 
Elijah, but when these had found the prophet, they 
were consumed with fire from heaven. Then the 
king dispatched another captain and fifty with the 
same fate. Then still another captain and fifty were 
sent, but as the captain of this fifty pleaded for his 
life, he and his men were spared. The angel of 
the Lord then commanded Elijah to go down to 
Ahaziah and tell him that he should surely die. 

IX. THE REIGN OF JEHORAM 

1. The accession of Jehoram (2 Kings 1:17, 18; 
3:1-3). As Ahaziah died without leaving a son, 
Jehoram, his brother, reigned in his stead. He took 

» Usher: 897-896 B. C. Kamphausen: 856-855 B. C. 
238 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— ISRAEL 

the throne in the second year of Jehoram, king of 
Judah/ He was a wicked king, but not like his 
father and his mother, for he put away the image of 
Baal, although he still walked in the ways of Jero- 
boam. 

2. The translation of Elijah (2 Kings 2:1-18). 
Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal and said to 
him : "Tarry here, I pray thee ; for the Lord hath 
sent me to Beth-el." But Elisha refused to tarry, 
and they both went to Bethel together. When they 
were come to that place, the sons of the prophets 
asked Elisha if he did not know that the Lord 
would take his master that day, and he replied: 
"Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace." Then Elijah 
said to Elisha: "Tarry here, I pray thee; for the 
Lord hath sent me to Jericho." But Elisha refused 
again. At Jericho, the sons of the prophets asked 
Elisha the same question as they had at Bethel. 
Again Elijah said: "Tarry, I pray thee, here; for 
the Lord hath sent me to Jordan." But Elisha 
refused again and went with him. When they came 
to the Jordan, Elijah rolled his mantle together and 
smote the waters so that they divided, and the two 
went over dry-shod. Having reached the other shore, 
Elijah said to Elisha: "Ask what I shall do for 
thee, before I be taken away from thee." Elisha 
replied: "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy 
spirit be upon me." This Elijah promised, provided 
Elisha saw him when he was taken away from him. 
As they went on and talked, there appeared a 
chariot and horses of fire which separated them, and 



1 Usher: 896-884 B. C. Kamphausen: 854-853 B. C. 
16 239 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Elijah was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind. 
As Elisha saw him go, he exclaimed, "My father, 
my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen 
thereof!" and he saw him no more. Then, picking 
up Elijah's mantle, he smote the waters of Jordan 
and went over and met the sons of the prophets at 
Jericho, who came to meet him and who bowed to 
the ground, saying: "The spirit of Elijah doth rest 
upon Elisha." They then, with Elisha's reluctant 
permission, sent fifty men to seek for Elijah, suppos- 
ing that the Spirit of God, after taking him up, 
might have cast him upon some mountain or in some 
valley. But, after three days' search, they found 
him not. 

3. Elisha heals the waters (2 Kings 2:19-22). 
Some of the men of Jericho came to Elisha and com- 
plained that, while the site of the city was pleasant, 
the water was impure and the ground barren. So, 
taking a cruse of salt, the prophet cast it into the 
water and it was cleansed of its impurity. 

4. Irreverent children devoured by bears (2 Kings 
2:23-25). As Elisha was returning from Jericho to 
Bethel, little children came out of the city and 
mocked him, saying: "Go up, thou bald head." At 
which the prophet cursed them in the name of the 
Lord, and two bears came out of the wood and tore 
forty-two of them. From Bethel, Elisha went to 
Carmel and from Carmel he returned to Samaria. 

5. The rebellion of Moab (2 Kings 3:4-27). 
Mesha, king of Moab, who was a sheepmaster and 
who had rendered the king of Israel two hundred 
thousand sheep with the wool, rebelled against Israel, 
after the death of Ahab, and Jehoram made an alli- 

240 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— ISRAEL 

ance with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and the king 
of Edom to go against him. When Elisha was con- 
sulted, he reproved the alHance, although he prom- 
ised victory over the Moabites. In the battle that 
ensued, the Moabites were defeated and Israel beat 
down their cities, threw stones upon their good 
land, stopped their wells and felled their trees. 

6. Elisha's miracles (2 Kings 4:1-6:7). During 
the reign of Jehoram, Elisha performed a number 
of notable miracles : 

(1) The wife of one of the sons of the prophets 
came to him with the complaint that her husband 
was dead, that she was poverty-stricken and that her 
creditor had come to take her two sons as bondsmen. 
Upon inquiry, Elisha discovered that she had noth- 
ing but a pot of oil. This oil he miraculously in- 
creased so that she had sufficient to pay her debts 
and redeem her sons. 

(2) A certain woman and her husband at Shunem 
had been very kind to the prophet and his servant, 
Gehazi, providing them a chamber on their wall 
whenever they came that way. For this kindness, 
Elisha promised her a son, although she was child- 
less. When the son was born, he fell sick and died, 
and his mother went to the prophet with her lament. 
Then Elisha came into her house, went up into the 
room where the child lay and, stretching himself 
twice upon its dead body, restored it to life. 

(3) A son of the prophets shred wild gourds into 
a mess of pottage and his companions ate of it. 
When they had discovered that the mess was poison- 
ous, they cried: "O thou man of God, there is death 
in the pot." Upon hearing this, Elisha cast meal 

241 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



into the pot and no harm came from the pottage. 

(4) Again, he fed an hundred men with twenty- 
loaves of barley and full ears of corn in the husk 
thereof. 

(5) Naaman, captain of the host of the king of 
Syria, was afflicted with leprosy, and, hearing through 
his Israelitish servant-girl of the power of Elisha, 
he went down into Israel to visit him. Elisha told 
him to dip seven times in Jordan, which he reluc- 
tantly did, with the result that he was made clean. 
Naaman offered Elisha a reward, which he refused 
to take. But Gehazi followed Naaman and received 
two talents of silver and two changes of raiment, 
because of which, at the prophet's command, he was 
stricken with the same disease. 

(6) Elisha and the sons of the prophets went to 
the Jordan to build for themselves a place in which 
to dwell. As one of them was felling a beam, his 
axe, which he had borrowed, fell into the stream. 
This being told Elisha, he cast a stick into the 
stream and the iron floated upon the water. 

7. Elisha defeats the plans of Ben-hadad (2 Kings 
6:8-23). Ben-hadad, king of Syria, warred against 
Israel and planned to ambush Jehoram, but his plans 
were revealed by Elisha. When Ben-hadad heard 
that it was Elisha who had discovered his plans, and 
that he was at Dothan, he sent a force to that city 
to take him. But this force was miraculously stricken 
with blindness and was led by the prophet himself 
to Samaria, where their eyes were opened. After 
saving them from the vengeance of Jehoram and 
feeding them, Elisha permitted them to return. 

8. The siege and famine of Samaria (2 Kings 6: 

242 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— ISRAEL 

24-7:20). Ben-hadad again besieged Samaria, and 
the lack of food was so great that women devoured 
their children. When Jehoram was told this, he was 
wroth with Elisha and threatened to take his life. 
This threat the prophet took calmly and promised 
the king that the next day there should be plenty of 
food. There were four lepers who dwelt at the gate 
of the city, and these determined to go into the camp 
of the Syrians in search of food. But, entering the 
camp, they found it deserted, as the Syrians had fled 
precipitately, believing that the king of Israel had 
hired the Hittites and Egyptians to fight against 
them. This being told Jehoram, he doubted and sent 
out spies, who returned and corroborated the story 
of the lepers. Then the children of Israel went into 
the camp and helped themselves to the spoils. 

9. Elisha visits Damascus (2 Kings 8:7-15). The 
prophet went to the city of Damascus, and when it 
was told Ben-hadad, who was sick, that Elisha was 
in that place, he sent Hazael with presents to inquire 
if he would recover from his disease. To this in- 
quiry Elisha replied : "Go, say unto him. Thou mayest 
certainly recover: howbeit the Lord hath shewed me 
that he shall surely die." Then the prophet began 
to weep, and when Hazael asked him the reason, he 
replied that it was because he foresaw that Hazael 
would yet be king over Syria and that he would burn 
Israel's cities, slay her young men and destroy her 
children. Upon hearing this, Hazael went in to the 
king and told him that he would recover, but, on 
the morrow, Ben-hadad dipped a cloth in water, 
placed it on his face and so died, and Hazael reigned 
in his stead. 

243 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



10. Jehoram wars with the Syrians (2 Kings 8: 
28). Jehoram warred with the Syrians in Ramoth- 
gilead. In this he was joined by Ahaziah, king of 
Judah. He was wounded in this war. 

X. THE REIGN OF JEHU 

1. Jehu anointed king (2 Kings 9:1-13). Elisha, 
hearing that Jehoram was wounded, commanded 
one of the sons of the prophets to go to Ramoth- 
gilead and anoint Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, king. 
This his messenger did, at the same time command- 
ing Jehu to slay both Jehoram and all the house of 
Ahab. 

2. The destruction of Jehoram and the house of 
Ahab (2 Kings 9: 14-10: 18). When it became known 
that Jehu had been anointed king, the fact was an- 
nounced by the blowing of the trumpet, and Jehu, 
taking a chariot, rode furiously from Ramoth-gilead 
to Jezreel, where Jehoram was. Jehoram saw him 
coming, and he and Ahaziah rode out to meet him, 
whereupon Jehu shot Jehoram through the heart with 
an arrow so that he died, and, pursuing Ahaziah, he 
smote him also, but he fled to Megiddo, where he 
died. As for Jezebel, the mother of Jehoram, she 
was thrown out of her own window at Jezreel by 
her own eunuchs at Jehu's command, and was de- 
voured by dogs according to the prophecy of Elijah. 
Following this, Jehu had all the house of Ahab 
slain and also forty-two of the princes of Judah, 
saving only Jehonadab. 

3. The extirpation of Baal-worship (2 Kings 10: 
19-29). The next important event in the career of 
Jehu was the extirpation of Baal-worship. He said, 

244 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— ISRAEL 

"Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve 
him much," and, sending forth a proclamation of a 
solemn assembly for Baal, he gathered together all 
of his priests in their temple, and, surrounding them 
with eighty of his trusty guards, he slew them all, 
broke their images and destroyed their house. 

4. The blessing promised (2 Kings 10:30, 31). 
Because of his zeal for Him, the Lord promised that 
four generations of Jehu's descendants should sit 
upon his throne. Yet Jehu did not entirely depart 
from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. 

5. The decline of Israel (2 Kings 10:32, 33). But, 
notwithstanding the power of Jehu, Israel was cut 
short during his days by the invasion of Hazael the 
Syrian, who took all of the territory east of the 
Jordan. 

6. The death of Jehu (2 Kings 10:35, 36). After 
reigning twenty-eight years,^ Jehu died and was 
buried in Samaria, and his son Jehoahaz reigned in 
his stead. 

XI. THE REIGN OF JEHOAHAZ 

1. The accession of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 13:1-3). 
Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in the twenty- 
third year of Joash, king of Judah, and reigned 
seventeen years.* He did evil in the sight of the 
Lord, on account of which Israel was delivered into 
the hands of Hazael and his son, Ben-hadad. 

2. The repentance of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 13:4-7). 
Under these trials, Jehoahaz repented and called upon 
the Lord, and the Lord heard him and gave Israel 

1 Usher: 884-856 B. C. Kamphausen; 842-815 B. C. 
Usher: 856-839 B. C. Kamphausen: 814-798 B. C. 
245 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



a savior, so that they went out from under the hand 
of the Syrians. But Israel did not depart from the 
sins of the house of Jeroboam. 

3. The death of Jehoahaz (2 Kings 13:8, 9). 
Jehoahaz died and was buried in Samaria, and was 
succeeded by his son Jehoash. 

XII. THE REIGN OF JEHOASH 

1. The accession of Jehoash (2 Kings 13:10, 11). 
Jehoash began to reign over Israel in the thirty- 
seventh year of Joash, king of Judah. He reigned 
sixteen years at Samaria, and did that which was 
evil in the sight of the Lord.^ 

2. The illness and death of Elisha (2 Kings 13: 
14-21). After his accession Elisha was taken sick 
and the king went down and wept over him, saying: 
"O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and 
the horsemen thereof/' Then Elisha told him to 
shoot an arrow out of the window eastward. When 
this was done, the prophet exclaimed: "The arrow 
of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliver- 
ance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians 
in Aphek, till thou have consumed them." Elisha 
then commanded him to take his arrows and smite 
the ground, which he did three times. At this the 
prophet was wroth, telling him that he should have 
smitten the ground five or six times, that then he 
would have smitten Syria until he had consumed it, 
whereas he should smite it but thrice. Following 
this, Elisha died. 

3. The wars of Jehoash (2 Kings 13:22-25; 14: 



Usher: 839-823 B. C. Kamphausen: 797-782 B. C, 
246 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— ISRAEL 

8-15). During his reign, Jehoash fought with the 
Syrians under Ben-hadad and took from them the 
cities which had been taken from his father. He 
also fought with Amaziah, king of Judah. 

4. The death of Jehoash (2 Kings 13:13; 14:16). 
Jehoash died and was buried at Samaria. 

XIII. THE REIGN OF JEROBOAM II. 

(2 Kings 14:23-29) 

Jeroboam II., the son of Jehoash, succeeded to 
the throne in the fifteenth year of Amaziah, king of 
Judah, and reigned forty-one years/ He was a 
wicked king, yet he seems to have possessed some 
power, for he won back part of the territory taken 
by the Syrians. 

XIV. THE REIGN OF ZACHARIAH 

(2 Kings 15:8-12) 

Upon the death of Jeroboam XL, his son Zachariah 
succeeded to the throne, in the thirty-eighth year of 
Azariah, king of Judah. He reigned only six months, 
when he was slain by Shallum, son of Jabesh.' 

XV. THE REIGN OF SHALLUM 

(2 Kings 15:13-15) 

Shallum began to reign in the thirty-ninth year 
of Azariah and reigned just one month, when he 
was slain by Menahem, son of Gadi.' 



» Usher: 823-772 B. C. Kamphausen: 781-741 B. C 
'Usher: 772 B. C. Kamphausen: 741 B. C. 
'Usher: 772 B. C. Kamphausen: 741 B. C. 

847 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



XVI. THE REIGN OF MENAHEM 

(2 Kings 15:16-20) 

Menahem began to reign in the thirty-ninth year 
of Azariah and reigned ten years in Samaria/ He 
was a very wicked king. He took the city of Tiphsah 
and slew all the pregnant women therein. During 
his reign, Israel was invaded by Pul, king of Assyria, 
and to him Menahem paid tribute. 

XVII. THE REIGN OF PEKAHIAH 

(2 Kings 15:21-26) 

When Menahem died, Pekahiah, his son, reigned 
in his stead. He began to reign in the fiftieth year 
of Azariah and reigned two years,' when he was slain 
by Pekah, one of his captains. 

XVIII. THE REIGN OF PEKAH 

(2 Kings 15:27-31) 

Pekah reigned twenty years" and did that which 
was evil in the sight of the Lord. During his 
reign, Tiglath-pileser invaded his territory and took 
the inhabitants of the northern part captive to 
Assyria. Pekah finally met his death at the hands 
of Hoshea, son of Elah. 

XIX. THE REIGN OF HOSHEA 

1. The accession of Hoshea (2 Kings 17:1, 2). 
Hoshea began to reign over Israel at Samaria in 
the twelfth year of Ahaz, king of Judah, and reigned 



» Usher: 772-762 B. C. Kamphausen: 740-738 B. C. 
» Usher: 762-760 B. C. Kamphausen: 737-736 B. C. 
•Usher: 760-730 B. C. Kamphausen: 736-730 B. C. 
248 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM—ISRAEL 

nine years/ He did that which was evil in the 
sight of the Lord, but not as the kings before him. 

2. Israel becomes tributary to Assyria (2 Kings 
17:3). During the reign of Hoshea, Shalmaneser, 
king of Assyria, came against Israel and Hoshea 
became tributary to him. 

3. The deportation of the ten tribes (2 Kings 17: 
4-41). In the fifth year of Hoshea's reign, Shal- 
maneser came against Samaria and besieged it three 
years, when it fell. This was because Hoshea had 
sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and had with- 
held his presents from the king of Assyria. Follow- 
ing the fall of Samaria, the ten tribes were deported 
to Assyria. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the causes of the division between Israel and Judah. 
Give the advantages of the northern kingdom. How many kings 
ruled over Israel? How many dynasties did they constitute? 
What was their character? How many of the kings of Israel 
are mentioned in the Assyrio-Babylonian inscriptions ? Name the 
kings of Israel in their order. Who was the first king to reign 
over Israel? What form of worship did he institute? Where 
did he set up idols, and why? What prophecy was uttered against 
the altar? What prophecy was uttered against Jeroboam? Tell 
about the conflict between Jereboam and Abijah. How long did 
Jeroboam reign? Who succeeded him? How long did Nadab 
reign? How did Baasha obtain the kingdom? What did he do 
to the house of Jeroboam? With whom did Baasha carry on 
war? How long did he reign and where was he buried? How 
long did Elah reign? Who slew him? How long did Zimri 
reign? What did he do to the house of Baasha? Who slew 
Zimri? How long did Omri reign? What city did he build? 
What was his character? Who was Ahab? Whom did he 
marry? What prophet began to prophesy under his reign? 



» Usher: 730-721 B. C. Kamphausen: 730-722 B. C 
249 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



What did Elijah do at Zarephath? Tell about the raising of the 
widow's son. Tell about Elijah's contest with the prophets of 
Baal. What threat did Jezebel make against Elijah? Where 
did Elijah flee to get away from Jezebel? What happened there? 
Tell about the call of Elisha. How many wars did Ahab have 
with Syria and in how many was he successful? What hap- 
pened to him in the last? How did Ahab secure the vineyard 
of Naboth? Who succeeded Ahab? What was his character? 
What false god did he seek to consult? What did Elijah com- 
mand Ahaziah's messengers to tell him ? Who succeeded Ahaziah ? 
Tell about the translation of Elijah. What miracle did Elisha 
perform at Jericho? What happened to the children of Bethel, 
and why? Mention some of the miracles of Elisha. Tell about 
the siege and famine of Samaria. Who was Jehu? What was 
his character? What did he do to Jehoram and the house of 
Ahab? What did he do to Baal-worship? How long did Jehu 
reign? Under whose reign did Elisha die? What important in- 
vasion occurred under the reign of Menahem? What invasion 
occurred under the reign of Pekah? What monarch invaded 
Israel under the reign of Hoshea? What city did he besiege? 
How long did he besiege it? Why did he besiege it? What did 
he do with the ten tribes? 



250 



STUDY XXIII. THE DIVIDED KINGDOM- 
JUDAH 

(1 Kings 12:1-2 Kings 25:30; 2 Chron. 10:1-36:21) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The kings of Judah. Judah was reigned over 
by twenty rulers. Of these, six were either good, 
or fairly good, men. 

2. The advantages of the southern kingdom. 
While the southern kingdom did not possess the 
population, the military power or the fertile soil 
of the northern kingdom, it had within its bounds 
the religious and political capital of the nation, and 
its rulers were the lineal descendants of King David. 

3. Archaeological confirmation. Four kings of 
Judah are mentioned in the Assyrio-Babylonian in- 
scriptions : Azariah, Ahaz, Hezekiah and Manasseh. 
We also have an account of the invasion of Judah 
by Shishak recorded on the walls of Karnak, and 
the account of the events described in 2 Kings 3 on 
the Moabite stone which was set up by King Mesha. 

4. The period of the kingdom. The period of the 
southern kingdom lay between the years 975 and 
586 B. C, Usher's chronology. 

I. THE REIGN OF REHOBOAM 

1. The accession of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:21; 
2 Chron. 12:1). Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, 
ascended the throne of Judah at the age of forty- 

251 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



one/ His mother was Naamah the Ammonitess. He 
did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. 

2. Rehoboam's folly (1 Kings 12:1-15; 2 Chron. 
10:1-11). When Rehoboam ascended the throne, 
representatives of his people, with Jeroboam at their 
head, came to him and requested that he lighten 
the burdens which his father had imposed upon 
them. Rehoboam asked three days in which to 
consider this proposition, at the expiration of which 
time, after listening to his young counselors instead 
of those who were older, who counseled otherwise, 
he declared that he would add to the yoke which 
his father had placed upon the people. This dis- 
pleased Israel and was the chief cause of the 
separation. 

3. Rehoboam's apostasy (1 Kings 14:21-24). Re- 
hoboam forsook God and, under his approval, Judah 
built high places, images and groves on every high 
hill and under every green tree. In addition to this, 
other more sinful and revolting practices were 
indulged in. 

4. The invasion of Shishak (1 Kings 14:25-30; 2 
Chron. 12:2-12). In the fifth year of Rehoboam's 
reign, Shishak, king of Egypt, came against Jeru- 
salem and despoiled the Temple of many of its treas- 
ures, among them the golden shields which Solomon 
had made. These were replaced by Rehoboam with 
shields of brass. 

5. The death of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:31; 2 
Chron. 12:13-16). After reigning for seventeen 
years, during which time he was continuously at 

» Usher: 975-958 B. C. Kamphausen: 937-921 B. C. 
252 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— JUDAH 

war with Israel, Rehoboam died and was buried with 
his fathers. 

II. THE REIGN OF ABIJAM 

1. The accession of Abijam (1 Kings 15:1-3; 2 
Chron. 13:1, 2), Abijam, son of Rehoboam by 
Micaiah, began to reign over Judah in the eighteenth 
year of Jeroboam, king of Israel.^ He did that which 
was evil in the sight of the Lord. 

2. The war between Abijam and Jeroboam (1 
Kings 15:6, 7; 2 Chron. 13:3-19). The war which 
had been begun between Rehoboam and Jeroboam 
was continued under the reign of Abijam. In the 
battle at Mount Ephraim, Israel was defeated and 
fled with great slaughter. 

3. The family of Abijam (2 Chron. 13:21, 22). 
Abijam became great and married fourteen wives, 
by whom he had twenty-two sons and sixteen 
daughters. 

4. The death of Abijam (1 Kings 15:8; 2 Chron. 
14:1). After reigning three years, Abijam died 
and was buried in the city of David. 

III. THE REIGN OF ASA 

1. The accession of Asa (1 Kings 15:8-15; 2 
Chron. 14:1-8). At the death of Abijam, his son 
Asa, a wise and good man and one of the best kings 
that Judah had, began to reign, in the twentieth 
year of Jeroboam.^ His mother's name was Maachah. 

2. Asa's victory over Zera the Ethiopian (2 Chron. 
14:9-15). During the reign of Asa, the Ethiopians 



1 Usher: 958-956 B. C. Kamphausen: 9^0-918 B. C. 
» Usher: 956-916 B. C. Kamphausen: 917-877 B. C. 
253 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



under Zera came against Judah. Asa marshaled his 
forces and met them in the valley of Zephathah. 
Before going into the battle, he offered the following 
prayer: "Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, 
whether with many, or with them that have no 
power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on 
thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. 
O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail 
against thee." In the battle which ensued, the 
Ethiopians were sorely defeated and were pursued 
by Asa as far as Gerar, when the children of Judah 
returned, bringing much spoil with them. 

3. The reforms of Asa (2 Chron. 15:1-19). Asa 
began his reign with a number of notable reforms. 
He took away the altars of the strange gods, broke 
their images and cut down their groves. Many from 
the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon, seeing 
this, joined his standard and, in the third month of 
his fifteenth year, gathered together in Jerusalem, 
where they offered seven hundred oxen and seven 
thousand sheep and entered into a covenant to seek 
the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart 
and soul. So zealous was Asa in his service of the 
Lord that he removed his mother, Maachah,^ from 
being queen because she worshiped an idol, and 
he destroyed her idol by the brook Kidron. 

4. The war between Asa and Baasha (1 Kings 15: 
16-22; 2 Chron. 16:1-11). In the thirty-sixth year 
of Asa's reign, Baasha, king of Israel, came against 
Judah and built Ramah to prevent further apostasies 
of his people to Asa. Then Asa made an alliance 



1 The terms "father" and "mother" are employed in the sense of 
'ancestor" in the Bible. Maachah was, in reality, the grandmother of Asa. 

254 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— JUDAH 

with Ben-hadad, king of Syria, to fight with him 
against Baasha. When Hanani, the seer, heard of 
this alHance, he rebuked Asa, because he relied upon 
Ben-hadad in the place of the Lord, telling him that 
from henceforth he should have wars. This rebuke 
enraged Asa and he had Hanani shut up in prison. 
In this war, Ben-hadad took many of the towns of 
northern Israel, and, as a result, Baasha left off 
building Ramah. 

5. The illness and death of Asa (1 Kings 15:23, 
24; 2 Chron. 16: 12-14). In the thirty-ninth year of 
his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and in 
the forty-first year died and was buried in his own 
sepulchre in the city of David. 

IV. THE REIGN OF JEHOSHAPHAT 

1. The accession of Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:41, 
42; 2 Chron. 17:1). Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, 
began to reign in the fourth year of Ahab, king of 
Israel, and in the thirty-fifth year of his own life.^ 

2. The revival under Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22: 
43-49; 2 Chron. 17:6-9). Jehoshaphat carried out the 
reforms of his father and took away the high places 
and groves from Judah, and, in the third year of his 
reign, sent princes, priests and Levites throughout 
Judah, instructing the people in the law of Moses. 

3. The power of Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 17: 10-19). 
So great was the power of Jehoshaphat that the 
kingdoms round about Judah stood in fear of him, and 
the Philistines and Arabians paid him tribute. He 
also built in Judah castles and store-cities, increased 



» Usher: 916-892 B. C. Kamphausen: 876-852 B. C. 
17 255 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



the commercial spirit of his people and strengthened 
his army. 

4. Jehoshaphat*s alliance with Ahab (1 Kings 
22:2-40; 2 Chron. 18: 1-19: 11). Jehoshaphat entered 
into an alliance with Ahab, king of Israel, to go 
against Ramoth-gilead, which had been taken from 
Israel by the king of Syria. The four hundred 
lying prophets of Israel promised victory, but 
Micaiah, the true prophet of the Lord, declared 
defeat. In the battle which ensued, Ahab was slain, 
but Jehoshaphat escaped and returned to Jerusalem. 
For this alliance Jehoshaphat was rebuked by Jehu, 
8on of Hanani the seer. 

5. The invasion of Moab and Ammon (2 Chron. 
20: 1-34). The Moabites and Ammonites invaded the 
land of Judah and came to En-gedi. When this was 
told Jehoshaphat, he proclaimed a fast and gathered 
all Judah together and besought the Lord for deliver- 
ance. This prayer was answered through Jahaziel, 
a Levite, who assured Jehoshaphat of victory, telling 
him that Judah would not even have to fight, but 
that she should simply stand still and see the salva- 
tion of the Lord. On the morrow, the army of 
Jehoshaphat went down into the wilderness of 
Tekoa, preceded by singers whom Jehoshaphat had 
appointed to praise the Lord. As the army moved 
forward, the Lord set ambushments for the Moabites 
and Ammonites and their allies, the Edomites, and 
they fell upon one another and slew one another so 
that, when Jehoshaphat came upon the field, he 
found it covered with dead bodies. So, gathering up 
the spoils, he returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 
and fear came upon all nations round about when 

256 



tHE DIVIDED Kli^CDOM— JUDAH 

they discovered that the Lord had fought for Judah. 

6. The alliance between Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah 
(1 Kings 22:47-49; 2 Chron. 20:35-37). A commer- 
cial alliance was formed between Jehoshaphat and 
Ahaziah, king of Israel, and they built ships to trade 
with Tarshish. This alliance was rebuked by Eliezer, 
son of Dodavah, who declared that, because of it, 
the Lord had broken Jehoshaphat's works. This 
prophecy came true and the ships were wrecked.^ 

7. The death of Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:50; 2 
Chron. 21 : 1). After reigning over Judah for twenty- 
five years, Jehoshaphat died and was buried with 
his fathers in Jerusalem. 

V. THE REIGN OF JEHORAM 

1. The accession of Jehoram (1 Kings 22:50; 2 
Kings 8:16-19; 2 Chron. 21:1-7). Jehoram, the son 
of Jehoshaphat, was thirty-two years old when he 
began to reign.^ He slew all of his brethren with 
the sword, married Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, 
and did evil in the sight of the Lord. 

2. The reverses of Jehoram (2 Kings 8:20-23; 2 
Chron. 21:8-17). Under the reign of this king there 
occurred a revolt of the Edomites and the inhabitants 
of Libnah, and the sacking of Jerusalem by the Phi- 
listines and the Arabians, who carried away all the 
substance found in Jehoram's house, with his wives 
and children, excepting Jehoahaz, his youngest son. 

* In 1 Kings the record says that Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah did not 
enter into a commercial partnership; in 2 Chronicles the record says that 
they did. The explanation is that they did at first form such a partnership, 
but Jehoshaphat, being reproved by the prophet, would not consent to the 
proposals of Ahaziah a second time. 

2 Usher: 892-885 B. C. Kamphausen: 851-844 B. C. 
257 



tHE GIST Olf THE BtMM 



3. Jehoram*s disease and death (2 Kings 8:24; 2 
Chron. 21:12-20). So wicked was Jehoram that 
Elijah sent him a written message declaring that he 
should be afflicted with an incurable disease of the 
bowels. He was accordingly afflicted and subse- 
quently died, after reigning eight years, without being 
lamented. He was buried in Jerusalem, though not 
in the sepulchre of his fathers. 

VI. THE REIGN OF AHAZIAH 

1. The accession of Ahaziah (2 Kings 8:24-27; 2 
Chron. 22:1-4). After the death of Jehoram the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his son, king 
in his stead. His mother was Athaliah. He was 
forty-two years old ^ when he began to reign. With 
his mother as counselor, he lived a very wicked life. 

2. The alliance of Ahaziah and Jehoram (2 Kings 
8; 28; 2 Chron. 22:5). Ahaziah formed an alliance 
with Jehoram, king of Israel, against Hazael, king 
of Syria. In the battle which ensued, Jehoram was 
wounded and returned to Jezreel to be healed. 

3. The death of Ahaziah (2 Kings 8:29-9:28; 2 
Chron. 22:9). After this, Ahaziah went down to 
Jezreel to visit Jehoram, and while there, with many 
others of his royal house, was slain by Jehu. 

VII. THE REIGN OF ATHALIAH 

(2 Kings 11 : 1-3; 2 Chron. 22: 10-23: 15) 

When Athaliah saw that her son was dead, she 
slew all of the royal house, excepting Joash, who, 
with his nurse, was hidden by his aunt in a bed- 



1 Usher: 885-884 B. G. Kamphausen: 843 B. C. 
258 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM--JUDAIi 

chamber. She then took the throne herself and 
reigned six years." She was a very wicked daughter 
of Ahab and Jezebel. 

VIII. THE REIGN OF JOASH 

1. The accession of Joash (2 Kings 11:4-12; 2 
Chron. 23:1-11). In the seventh year after the 
death of Ahaziah, Jehoiada the priest, by stratagem, 
secured the accession of Joash. He made a covenant 
with the captains of hundreds, the priests, the 
Levites and the congregation to support the king's 
seed, and then had the boy brought out and anointed. 
Joash was seven years of age when he began to 
reign.^ He did that which was right in the sight 
of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada, who took for 
him two wives. 

2. The execution of Athaliah (2 Kings 11:13-16; 
2 Chron. 23:12-15). When Athaliah heard the sound 
of the coronation ceremonies, she rent her clothes and 
cried : ''Treason, treason." But, by the command 
of Jehoia'da, she was taken and executed. 

3. The revival of the true worship (2 Kings 11: 
17-20; 2 Chron. 23:16-21). Following the accession 
of Joash, Jehoiada set about reviving the ancient 
worship. He made Joash and his people enter into 
a covenant to be the Lord's people. He then broke 
down the altars of Baal, slew his priest and broke 
his images. After this, he re-established the temple 
worship. 

4. The repairing of the Temple (2 Kings 12 : 1- 



1 Usher: 884-878 B. C. Kamphausen: 842-837 B. C. 

2 Usher: 878-838 B. C. Kamphausen: 836-797 B. C. 

259 



^nk GIST OF THE BIBLE 



16; 2 Chron. 24:1-14). Joash determined to repair 
the Temple, which had been desecrated by Athaliah's 
sons. So, gathering together the priests and Levites, 
he sent them throughout Judah to gather funds for 
the work. As the Levites did not hasten, Joash com- 
plained to Jehoiada and then had a chest placed 
within the gate of the Temple and made proclama- 
tion to the people to bring their money and cast 
it into the chest. In this way the necessary 
funds were raised both to repair the Temple and to 
refurnish it. 

5. The death of Jehoiada (2 Chron. 24:15, 16). 
Jehoiada now died and was buried among the kings 
of Judah because he had done good in Israel both 
toward God and his house. 

6. The apostasy and pride of the princes of 
Judah (2 Chron. 24:17-22). After the death of the 
faithful Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came before 
the king and secured his consent to restore the 
groves and idols. This greatly displeased the Lord, 
and the Spirit rested upon Zechariah, the son of 
Jehoiada, who reproved them for their apostasy. For 
this the princes conspired against him and he was 
stoned to death. 

7. Judah defeated by the Syrians (2 Chron. 24: 
23, 24). As a punishment for their sins, the Lord 
sent the Syrians against Judah. This people de- 
stroyed her princes and sent spoils back to 
Damascus. 

8. The death of Joash (2 Kings 12:19-21; 2 
Chron. 24 : 25-27) . After reigning forty years, Joash 
was slain by his own servants in his bed and was 
buried among the kings of Judah. 

260 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM-JUDAH 

IX. THE REIGN OF AMAZIAH 

1. The accession of Amaziah (2 Kings 14:1, 2; 
2 Chron. 25:1, 2). Amaziah was twenty- five years 
old when he began to reign/ His mother's name 
was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. He did that which 
was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a 
perfect heart. 

2. Amaziah's vengeance upon his father's slayers 
(2 Chron. 25:3, 4). When his kingdom was fully 
established, Amaziah slew the servants who had 
taken his father's life. 

3. Amaziah's war with Edom (2 Chron. 25:5-16). 
Amaziah gathered together the army of Judah and, 
with a large force of mercenaries hired out of Israel, 
proceeded against Edom. But a man of God came 
to him, saying: ''Let not the army of Israel go with 
thee; for the Lord is not with Israel, to wit, with 
all the children of Ephraim." When Amaziah heard 
this, he sent the children of Ephraim back to their 
own land, which greatly enraged them, and they 
fell upon some of the cities of northern Judah, smote 
three thousand of them and returned with the spoils. 
In the battle which ensued between Amaziah and 
Edom, the latter were defeated with great slaughter, 
but Amaziah carried their gods back with him, made 
them his gods and offered incense to them, which 
greatly displeased the Lord. 

4. Amaziah's war with Israel (2 Kings 14:8-14; 
2 Chron. 25:17-25). Amaziah, after his return from 
fighting Edom, sent a challenge to Jehoash, king of 
Israel. Jehoash sent a message back advising Ama- 



» Usher: 838-809 B. C. Kamphausen: 796-778 B. C. 
261 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



ziah to let him and Israel alone. But Amaziah 
would not hearken and went against Israel, by whom 
he was sorely defeated and was taken captive, Jeho- 
ash bringing him to Jerusalem, where he broke down 
the walls, after which he returned to his own land 
with many spoils. 

5. The death of Amaziah (2 Kings 14 : 18-20 ; 2 
Chron. 25:26-28). A conspiracy was formed against 
Amaziah in the latter part of his reign and he fled 
to Lachish, where he was slain. His body was then 
brought to Jerusalem and he was buried with his 
fathers. He reigned twenty-nine years. 

X. THE REIGN OF UZZIAH (AZARIAH) 

1. The accession of Uzziah (2 Kings 15:1-4; 2 
Chron. 26:1-5). Uzziah, or Azariah, was sixteen 
years old when he began to reign.^ He was the son 
of Amaziah and Jecholiah, and did that which was 
right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Zech- 
ariah the priest. 

2. The wars of Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:6-15). 
Uzziah had a large army and he strengthened the 
defenses of Jerusalem. He warred against the Phi- 
listines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh 
and Ashdod. He also warred against the Arabians, 
and the Ammonites paid him tribute. 

3. Uzziah intrudes into the office of the priest (2 
Kings 15:5; 2 Chron. 26:16-21). But Uzziah com- 
mitted sin against God. He went into the Temple 
and offered incense upon the altar. For this he was 
reproached by Azariah the priest, which made him 



» Usher: 809-757 B. C. Kamphausen: 111-11^ B. C. 
262 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— JUDAH 

exceedingly wroth. But, while he stood with the 
censer in his hand, he was stricken with leprosy 
and was driven from the house of the Lord and 
from his throne, Jotham his son reigning in his 
stead. 

4. The death of Uzziah (2 Kings 15:6, 7; 2 
Chron. 26 : 22, 23) . After reigning fifty-two years, 
Uzziah died and was buried with his fathers in the 
field of burial which belonged to the kings. 

XI. THE REIGN OF JOTHAM 

1. The accession of Jotham (2 Kings 15:32, 33; 
2 Chron. 27:1, 2). Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was 
twenty-five years old when he began to reign.^ His 
mother was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok. 

2. The enterprise of Jotham (2 Kings 15:34-37; 
2 Chron. 27:1-6). Jotham was an upright ruler, 
although his people were corrupt. He strengthened 
the defenses of Judah and built cities. He also 
conquered the Ammonites and from them exacted 
tribute. 

3. The death of Jotham (2 Kings 15:38; 2 
Chron. 27:7-9). At the time of his death Jotham 
had reigned sixteen years. He was buried in Jeru- 
salem. 

XII. THE REIGN OF AHAZ 

1. The accession of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:1-4; 2 
Chron. 28:1-4). Ahaz, the son of Jotham, was 
twenty years of age when he began to reign.^ He 
did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord and 
worshiped Baal. 

1 Usher: 757-742 B. C. Kamphausen: 750-735 B. C. 

2 Usher: 742-726 B. C Kamphausen: 734-715 B. C. 

263 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



2. The wars of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:5-18; 2 Chron. 
28:5-25). Because of the wickedness of Ahaz, the 
Lord deHvered him into the hands of the Syrians, 
who smote him and carried away a multitude of his 
subjects captive to Damascus. Pekah, the king of 
Israel, also attacked Judah, slew a multitude and 
carried a multitude captive to Samaria; but these 
were sent back to Judah through the intervention of 
Oded, a prophet of the Lord. The Edomites and 
Philistines also invaded the land, and Ahaz appealed 
to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, for help. Ahaz 
paid the Assyrian king out of the portion of the 
Temple, but he helped him not. In all of his reverses 
Ahaz called upon other gods than the God of his 
fathers. 

3. The death of Ahaz (2 Kings 16 : 19, 20 ; 2 
Chron. 28:26, 27). Ahaz reigned sixteen years and 
after his death was buried in Jerusalem, though not 
in the sepulchre of the kings of Judah. 

XIIL THE REIGN OF HEZEKIAH 

1. The accession of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:1-3; 
2 Chron. 29:1, 2). Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, began 
to reign at the age of twenty-five.^ His mother's 
name was Abijah. He did that which was right in 
the sight of the Lord. 

2. The revival under Hezekiah (2 Kings 18 : 4-7 ; 
2 Chron. 29:3-31:21). At the very beginning of his 
reign, Hezekiah set about restoring the worship of 
his fathers. He opened the doors of the Temple, 
which Ahaz, his father, had closed, had the priests 



» Usher: 726-697 B. C. Kamphausen: 714-686 B. C. 
264 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— JUDAH 

sanctify themselves, and offered burnt-offerings. He 
also, at the appointed time, had Judah keep the Pass- 
over, and set himself zealously to the work of de- 
stroying the idols that were in the land. He also 
compelled Judah to pay tithes and to walk in the 
commandments of the Lord. 

3. The invasion of Sennacherib (2 Kings 18 : 13- 
37; 2 Chron. 32: 1-19). Sennacherib, king of Assyria, 
entered Palestine and laid siege to Lachish. While 
engaged in operations against this place, he sent 
letters to Hezekiah and his people, threatening them 
with subjugation, boasting of his power and defying 
the God of Israel. 

4. Judah delivered from Sennacherib (2 Kings 19: 
1-37; 2 Chron. 32:20-23). When Hezekiah the king, 
and Isaiah the prophet, heard the blatant words of 
the emissaries of Sennacherib, they cried unto God, 
and He heard their prayer and declared that the 
king of Assyria should not come into the city, shoot 
an arrow into it nor raise a bank against it, but that 
he should return by the way that he came. That 
night the angel of the Lord smote 185,000 of the 
Assyrians, and Sennacherib returned to Nineveh, 
where, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch, 
his god, his two sons slew him. 

5. Hezekiah's illness and recovery (2 Kings 20: 
1-11; 2 Chron. 32:24-26). Hezekiah became very 
sick, and Isaiah the prophet came into his presence 
and charged him to set his house in order, telling 
him that he should die and not live. The king, 
hearing this, turned his face to the wall and be- 
sought the Lord, who told him that He would add 
fifteen years to his life, and also that He would 

265 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



deliver him out of the hands of the king of Assyria. 

6. Hezekiah imprudently reveals his wealth to 
the representatives of Babylon (2 Kings 20:12-19; 2 
Chron. 32:31). Hezekiah recovered from his ill- 
ness, and Berodach-baladan, son of Baladan, king of 
Babylon, sent a letter and presents to him congrat- 
ulating him on his recovery. Hezekiah imprudently 
showed the bearers the wealth of his house, for 
which he was rebuked by Isaiah, who told him that 
the time would come when his possessions and his 
sons would be carried to Babylon. 

7. The death of Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:20, 21; 2 
Chron. 32:32, 33). Hezekiah reigned twenty-nine 
years in Jerusalem, at the end of which time he died 
and was buried with great honor in the chiefest of 
the sepulchres of the sons of David. 

XIV. THE REIGN OF MANASSEH 

1. The accession of Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1-9; 
2 Chron. 33:1-10). Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, was 
twelve years of age when he began to reign.^ He 
was directly the reverse of his father, reinstated the 
worship of Baal, and refused to hearken to the 
warnings of the Lord. 

2. The captivity of Manasseh (2 Chron. 33:11- 
13). Because of his wickedness the Lord brought 
upon Manasseh the host of the Assyrians and 
he was carried to Babylon. But here he called 
upon the Lord, was delivered and was restored to his 
throne. 

3. Manasseh returns to the Lord (2 Chron. 33: 



1 Usher: 697-642 B. C. Kamphausen: 685-641 B. C. 
266 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM-JUDAH 

14-19). Following his deliverance, Manasseh took 
the strange gods out of the house of the Lord and 
cast them out of the city. He also repaired the 
altar and offered sacrifices thereon. 

4. The death of Manasseh (2 Kings 21:18; 2 
Chron. 33:20). Manasseh reigned fifty-five years in 
Jerusalem and, upon his death, was buried in the 
garden of his own house. 

XV. THE REIGN OF AMON 

(2 Kings 21:19-26; 2 Chron. 33:21-25) 

Amon, the son of Manasseh, succeeded him. He 
was twenty-two years of age when he began to 
reign, and reigned two years,^ when the people of 
the land conspired against him and slew him. He was 
a very wicked king. 

XVI. THE REIGN OF JOSIAH 

1. The accession of Josiah (2 Kings 22:1, 2; 2 
Chron. 34:1, 2). Josiah, son of Amon, was eight 
years old when he began to reign.^ He did that 
which was right in the sight of the Lord. 

2. The reformation under Josiah (2 Kings 22 : 3- 
23:27; 2 Chron. 34:3-35:19). In Josiah's eighth 
year he began to seek after the Gk)d of David and, later, 
set himself to the task of purging Judah and Jeru- 
salem. He destroyed the worship of Baal and, in 
his eighteenth year, repaired the Temple. During 
this time a copy of the law of Moses was found in 
the house of the Lord. When this was read to 



1 Usher: 642-640 B. C. Kamphausen: 640-639 B. C. 
s Usher: 640-609 B. C. Kamphausen: 638-608 B. C, 
267 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Josiah, he rent his clothes because his fathers had 
not observed the law. He then sent men to inquire 
of the Lord concerning the words of the book, and 
when Huldah the prophetess was appealed to by 
them, she declared that the Lord would pour out 
his wrath upon the people because of their sins, but 
that, as Josiah had humbled himself, the evil would 
not come in his day. Then Josiah kept the Passover 
with his people. 

3. The invasion of Pharaoh Necho and the death 
of Josiah (2 Kings 23:28-30; 2 Chron. 35:20-27). 
After Josiah had repaired the Temple, Necho, king 
of Egypt, came up against Charchemish, and Josiah 
went out to meet him. Necho sent ambassadors to 
Josiah assuring him that he had not come against 
him and urging him to return. But this Josiah re- 
fused to do, and in the conflict which ensued he was 
sorely wounded and was brought to Jerusalem, where 
he died and where he was buried with great honor. 
He reigned thirty-one years. 

XVII. THE REIGN OF JEHOAHAZ 

(2 Kings 23: 30-33; 2 Chron. 36: 1-3) 

Upon the death of Josiah, the people made his 
son Jehoahaz king. He was twenty-three years of 
age when he began to reign' and reigned only 
three months, during which he did evil in the 
sight of the Lord. At the expiration of this period, 
Pharaoh Necho took him captive to Egypt, where 
he died. 

» Usher: 609 B. C. Kamphausen: 608 B. C. 
268 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— JUDAH 

XVIII. THE REIGN OF JEHOIAKIM 

(2 Kings 23:34-24:5; 2 Chron. 36:4-7) 

Jehoahaz being deposed, Necho placed his brother 
Eliakim upon the throne and changed his name to 
Jehoiakim. He was twenty-five years of age when 
he ascended the throne, and reigned eleven years/ 
He did that which was evil, and, after paying tribute 
to the king of Egypt, he became tributary to the king 
of Babylon, but, after serving him for three years, 
he renounced his allegiance and rebelled. Then the 
Lord sent against him the Syrians, Chaldeans, Moab- 
ites and Ammonites. Finally Nebuchadnezzar car- 
ried him to Babylon, where he died. 

XIX. THE REIGN OF JEHOIACHIN 

(2 Kings 24:6-16; 2 Chron. 36:8, 9) 

Jehoiachin was eighteen years of age when he 
began to reign, and he reigned three months.^ He 
was a wicked king. During his reign, Nebuchad- 
nezzar came against Jerusalem and took it. He car- 
ried the king and his family, with smiths and crafts- 
men, to Babylon and with them the spoils of the 
Temple. He then placed Jehoiachin's uncle, Zede- 
kiah, upon the throne. 

XX. THE REIGN OF ZEDEKIAH 

(2 Kings 24:17-25:7; 2 Chron. 36:11-21) 

Zedekiah was twenty-one years of age when he 
ascended the throne. He reigned eleven years' and 

» Usher: 609-598 B. C. Kamphausen: 607-597 B. C. 
« Usher: 598-597 B. C. Kamphausen: 597 B. C. 
8 Usher: 597-586 B. C. Kamphausen: 596-586 B. C. 
269 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



did evil in the sight of the Lord. He rebelled 
against the king of Babylon, because of which that 
king came against Jerusalem, and, after a siege of 
more than a year, took it and carried the Jews to 
Babylon. This king slew Zedekiah's sons before his 
eyes, and then put out his eyes and bound him with 
fetters of brass. Nebuchadnezzar also placed Geda- 
liah as governor over Palestine, but this official was 
subsequently slain, his slayers fleeing to Egypt. 

QUESTIONS 

How many rulers did Judah have? How many were good or 
fairly good? Give their names in their order. Mention the 
advantages of the southern kingdom. How many of Judah's 
kings are mentioned in the Assyrio-Babylonian inscriptions so far 
deciphered? Give the date of the beginning and end of the 
southern kingdom. Tell about Rehoboam's folly. What kind of 
a man was Rehoboam? What monarch invaded Judah during 
his reign? How long did Rehoboam reign? Who succeeded 
Rehoboam? With whom did Abijam carry on a war? How 
long did he reign? Who succeeded Abijam? What was his 
character? Over what foreign monarch did he win a victory? 
What reforms did Asa undertake? With whom did he make an 
alliance against Baasha? How was he afflicted? How long did 
he reign? Who succeeded Asa? What kind of a man was 
Jehoshaphat? What reforms did he undertake? Tell about 
Jehoshaphat's power. With whom did he make an alliance? 
What nations invaded Judah during his reign? With whom did 
Jehoshaphat make a commercial alliance ? How long did Jehosh- 
aphat reign? Who succeeded Jehoshaphat? What was Je- 
horam's character? How long did he reign? Who succeeded 
Jehoram? With whom did Ahaziah make an alliance? What 
happened to Ahaziah? Who was Athaliah? What was her 
character? What did she do? Who succeeded Athaliah? What 
was the character of Joash? What happened to Athaliah? What 
did Joash do? What good man lived during the reign of Joash? 
How long did Joash reign? Who succeeded Joash? What did 

270 



THE DIVIDED KINGDOM— JUDAH 



he do to his father's slayers? With what nation did he carry on 
a war? Tell about his trouble with Israel and the outcome of it. 
Where was Amaziah slain? Who succeeded Amaziah? How old 
was Uzziah when he began to reign? With whom did he war? 
What grave sin did he commit and what happened to him in 
consequence? How long did Uzziah reign? Who followed 
Uzziah? What was Jotham's character? Who succeeded Jotham? 
What was the character of Ahaz? With what nations did Ahaz 
war? Who followed Ahaz? What was Hezekiah's character? 
What reform did Hezekiah inaugurate? What foreign monarch 
invaded Judah during his reign? What did the Lord promise 
Hezekiah and Isaiah ? Tell about Hezekiah's illness and recovery. 
To whom, and under what circumstances, did Hezekiah im- 
prudently show his wealth? How long did Hezekiah reign? 
Who succeeded Hezekiah? What was Manasseh's character? 
Where was Manasseh carried captive, and why? What effect 
did this have upon Manasseh? Who succeeded Manasseh? 
What was Amon's character? Who followed Amon? W^hat re- 
form did Josiah inaugurate? What foreign monarch invaded 
Judah under Josiah's reign? Who succeeded Josiah? How 
long did Jehoahaz reign? What was his character? What for- 
eign monarch carried him away captive, and where? Who fol- 
lowed Jehoahaz? What was his character? How long did 
Jehoiakim reign? What finally happened to him? Who suc- 
ceeded Jehoiakim? How long did Jehoiachin reign? What hap- 
pened to Jehoiachin? Who was the last king of Judah? How 
long did Zedekiah reign? Who carried him to Babylon? Who 
was made governor of Palestine in his place? 



18 271 



STUDY XXIV. THE CAPTIVITIES 

(Jeremiah 40-43. Ezekiel. Daniel) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The causes of the captivities. Primarily, the 
cause of the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities was 
sin, the rejection of God and the institution of false 
w^orship, with the practice of revolting and offensive 
rites. Secondarily, the cause was rebellion against 
the kings of Assyria and Babylonia, Shalmaneser 
and Nebuchadnezzar. 

2. The period of the captivities. Samaria fell in 
the year 721 B. C, and her people were led away cap- 
tive and have never been restored as a body, although 
a remnant probably returned with the Jews under 
Zerubbabel and subsequent leaders. The first of the 
Jews were taken to Babylon in the year 606 B. C, 
when the prophetical seventy years began.* Jerusa- 
lem fell in 587 and the beginning of the return oc- 
curred in 536. 

3. The condition of the times. At the time of the 
captivity of Israel, Assyria, with its capital at Nineveh 
on the Tigris River, was the dominant world power. 
Egypt had fallen before her and Babylon had not 
yet risen. At the time that the Jews were led away 
captive, Babylon was the dominant world power, 
having subdued Assyria and gained the ascendency. 



ijer. 25: 11 and 29: 10. 

272 




273 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



I. THE CAPTIVITY OF THE TEN TRIBES 
IN ASSYRIA 

1. The Assyrian Empire. The history of Assyria 
may be divided into three periods : First, from the 
unknown commencement of the empire to the con- 
quest of Babylon, about 1250 B. C. Secondly, from 
the conquest of Babylon to the accession of Tiglath- 
pileser II. in 745 B. C. Thirdly, from the accession of 
Tiglath-pileser II. to the fall of Nineveh in 625 B. C. 
It was during this last period that Assyria came in 
touch with Israel. The kings who reigned during this 
period were : 

(1) Tiglath-pileser IL {7AS-727 B. C). This mon- 
arch was a bold and successful warrior who con- 
quered Damascus, Samaria, Tyre, the Philistines and 
the Arabians of the Sinaitic peninsula. He carried 
away captives from the eastern and northern tribes 
of Israel and took tribute from Ahaz, king of Judah. 

(2) Shalmaneser IV. (727-721 B. C). This king 
conquered Phoenicia, but was defeated in a naval 
engagement at Tyre. 

(3) Sargon (721-705 B. C). Sargon, who suc- 
ceeded Shalmaneser IV., took Samaria and carried 
its people captive to his newly conquered provinces 
of Media and Gauzanitis. 

(4) Sennacherib (705-680 B. C). Sennacherib de- 
feated Merodach-baladan, who had revolted during 
the latter part of the reign of Sargon, and placed an 
Assyrian viceroy on the Babylonian throne. He 
quelled a revolt of the Phoenician cities and extorted 
tribute from most of the kings of Syria. He defeated 
the combined forces of the Egyptians and Ethiopians 

274 



THE CAPTIVITIES 



and came against Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah, 
when 185,000 of the flower of his army were destroyed 
by the angel of death. Upon his return to Nineveh, 
he was slain by his two sons. 

(5) Esar-haddon (680-667 B. C.)- This king de- 
feated Tirhakah, king of Egypt, and broke up his 
kingdom into a number of petty states. He also com- 
pleted the colonization of Samaria with colonists from 
Babylonia and Persia. 

(6) Assur-banipal (667-647 B. C). Under this 
king, Assyria reached the zenith of its glory. He con- 
quered Egypt, overran Asia Minor and imposed 
a tribute upon the king of Lydia. He also subdued 
Armenia, Susiana and many of the Arabian tribes. 

(7) Asshiir-emid-ilin (647-625 B. C). A number 
of disasters came under the reign of this king. As- 
syria was first invaded by the Scythians and then by 
the Medes and Babylonians under Cyaxares and 
Nabopolassar, by whom it was overthrown in 625 
B. C. 

2. The culture of Assyria. The Assyrians were an 
enterprising people. Though in letters and science 
they were behind both the Chaldeans and Egyptians, 
they excelled them in the artistic character of their 
architecture, and their palaces were of extraordinary 
splendor. Their sculpture, though inferior to the 
Grecian, was far in advance of the stiff, conventional 
designs of the Egyptians and displayed grandeur, dig- 
nity, boldness and strength. They manufactured 
transparent glass and even had lenses. They were 
acquainted with the principle of the arch, and con- 
structed tunnels, aqueducts and conduits. They knew 
the uses of the pulley, lever and roller. They were 

275 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



also adepts in the arts of inlaying, overlaying and 
enameling, and could cut the gems with the greatest 
skill and finish. 

3. The lands of the captivity of the ten tribes. 
The lands to which the ten tribes were deported are 
given as follows: 

"In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took 
Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them 
in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities 
of the Medes" (2 Kings 17:6). 

4. The successors of Israel. In the place of the 
ten tribes, the king of Assyria brought men from 
Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath and Sepharvaim, 
whom he put in the cities of Samaria. But, as these 
feared Him not, the Lord sent lions among them 
which slew some of them. Then the children of Israel 
told the king of Assyria that their successors had been 
slain because they knew not the manner of the God 
of the land, and the king of Assyria commanded them 
to send one of their priests to Samaria to instruct the 
people. This was done, but, while the people feared 
the Lord, they continued to serve other gods. 

5. The condition of Israel after her deportation. 
With the deportation of Israel, her history practically 
ends. According to the prophet Hosea, Ephraim had 
"mixed himself among the people" (Hos. 7:8) and 
his people were to be "wanderers among the nations" 
(Hos. 9: 17), all of which has been fulfilled in the ex- 
periences of the people of the northern kingdom. 
Since their dispersion, they have been known as "the 
lost ten tribes," because they have dropped so com- 
pletely out of sight, and some have tried to find them 
in the American Indians, others in the Nestorians, 

276 



THE CAPTIVITIES 



and still others in various European nations. The 
most reasonable supposition is that they coalesced 
with the Medes and other adjacent peoples and so 
became lost to view. Josephus (B. XL, C. 5, p. 2) 
says of them : 

"The ten tribes are beyond Euphrates till now, and are an 
immense multitude, and not to be estimated by numbers." 

Hosea uttered one prophecy of hope : 

"For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a 
king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without 
an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim : after- 
ward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their 
God, and David their king ; and shall fear the Lord and his good- 
ness in the latter days" (Hos. 3:4, 5). 

Some have thought that this prophecy was fulfilled 
in the first return under Zerubbabel; others have de- 
clared that it was conditional and will never be ful- 
filled, while still others insist that it is yet to be ful- 
filled. The student must decide this question for 
himself. 

II. THE CAPTIVITY OF THE TWO 
TRIBES IN BABYLON 

1. The Babylonian Empire. The history of Baby- 
lon may be divided into three periods : First, from the 
earliest times to the thirteenth century B. C, when 
the early Babylonian kingdom was subverted by the 
Assyrians. Secondly, from the thirteenth century to 
747 B. C, during which time Babylon was under 
the dominion of Assyria. Thirdly, from 747 B. C, 
when Nabonassar threw off the Assyrian yoke, to 
the fall of Babylon in 538 B. C. From 747 to 625 

277 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



B. C, in which year Nineveh fell, the affairs of 
the kingdom were in a troubled state. Merodach- 
baladan, the fifth king, was overthrown by Sargon 
and was held as a captive for six years, while his 
throne was occupied by an Assyrian viceroy. But, 
at the expiration of this time, he escaped and resumed 
his throne, only to be again deposed by Sennacherib. 
After this, Esar-haddon completely subjugated Baby- 
lon, built a palace and reigned alternately there and 
at Nineveh. But, in 625 B. C, Nabopolassar, a Baby- 
lonian general, taking advantage of the weakened con- 
dition of Assyria, which was due to the inroads of 
the Scythian hordes, allied himself with Cyaxares, 
king of the Medes, and won Babylonian independence. 
The kings that followed Nabopolassar are as follows: 

(1) Nebuchadnezzar (605-561 B. C). This king, 
son of Nabopolassar, was one of the greatest mon- 
archs of ancient times. He warred with Phoenicia, 
the Jews and the Egyptians, and established an em- 
pire which extended westward to the Mediterranean 
Sea. 

(2) Evil-merodach (561-559 B. C). Evil-merodach 
was a very wicked son of Nebuchadnezzar. He was 
slain by his sister's husband, Nereglissar. 

(3) Nereglissar (559-555 B. C). This king was 
already advanced in years when he ascended the 
throne, having been an officer in the Babylonian army 
at the siege of Jerusalem, thirty years before. 

(4) Lahorosoarchod (555 B. C). This young king 
was murdered by Nabonidus after reigning only nine 
months. 

(5) Nabonidus (555-538 B. C). Nabonidus asso- 
ciated with him his son Belshazzar, who had com- 

278 




279 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



mand of the city of Babylon at the time of its over- 
throw by Cyrus, Nabonidus himself being in com- 
mand of his army in Borsippa. 

2. The culture of Babylon. The Babylonians were 
astronomers, architects and merchants. Astrology 
was a part of their religion, and, when Alexander 
took Babylon in 331 B. C, he found an unbroken 
series of astronomical calculations covering a period 
of 1,903 years. They were the inventors of the wedge- 
shape characters, "cuneiform," which are found in- 
scribed on the monuments of the Tigris and Euphrates 
Valleys.^ They built great structures in the shape 
of terraced and truncated pyramids. They worked 
the metals and cut gems. They carried on commerce 
with the surrounding nations. And they made deli- 
cate fabrics upon their looms. 

3. The deportations of the Jews. There is some 
confusion in the sacred narrative over the number of 
deportations of Jews to Babylon. Two are mentioned 
in the Book of Kings, three in that of Jeremiah, while 
Daniel seems to mention a fourth and earlier one. 
There were certainly three: (1) Under Jehoiakim, 
when Nebuchadnezzar carried the vessels of the house 
of the Lord to Babylon, at which time, probably, also 
Daniel, Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) 
and Azariah (Abed-nego) were taken. (2) Under 
Jehoiachin, when Nebuchadnezzar cirried away the 
king, his mother, his servants, his princes and his 
craftsmen and smiths, ''all Jerusalem," ten thousand 
captives, leaving only the poorest sort of the people 
behind. And (3) under Zedekiah, when the final 

* Dr. A. H. Sayce, "Fresh Light from the Ancient Monuments," p. 21, 
assigns the invention of these characters to an earlier people, the Accadians. 

280 



THE CAPTIVITIES 



deportation took place, only a small remnant being 
left behind under the governorship of Gedaliah. 

4. The condition of the captive Jews. The Jews 
were not carried to Babylon so much as captives as 
colonists. According to Josephus, they acquired 
"possessions," and these induced many of them to 
remain behind even when the edict of Cyrus permitted 
them to return. It would seem from Jer. 29 : 4-7 that 
they had about the same liberties as the other in- 
habitants of the land, as they were commanded to 
build houses, plant gardens, take wives and beget 
children, and also to seek the peace of the city in 
which they dwelt. We also know that, although 
they were prohibited from offering sacrifices, they 
were permitted to assemble in public worship on their 
sabbaths, at which time their Scriptures were read 
and commented upon. That some of the captives 
reached positions of honor is proved by the history 
of Daniel. Some have claimed that only the poorest 
of the captives returned under Zerubbabel, Ezra and 
Nehemiah, the rest being perfectly content to remain 
in the land of their captivity, which being true, their 
lot could not have been a hard one. 

III. THE HISTORY OF DANIEL 

The history of Daniel may be divided into two 
periods: his history under the reign of the Baby- 
lonian kings, and his history under the reign of the 
Medo-Persian kings. 

1. Daniel under the Babylonian kings. 

(1) The captivity of Daniel (Dan. 1: 1-21). In the 
third year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, Nebuchad- 
nezzar besieged Jerusalem, overthrew it and carried 

281 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



some of the people away to Babylon. Among them 
were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. These, 
by the command of Nebuchadnezzar, were taken by 
Ashpenaz, master of the eunuchs, to be educated in 
the learning and tongue of the Chaldeans. Being 
supplied with provisions from the king's table, they 
refused to eat his meat and to drink his wine, pre- 
ferring pulse to eat and water to drink. But, after 
many days had passed, they were brought into the 
presence of Nebuchadnezzar, who found them su- 
perior in every way to their Babylonian companions. 
(2) The dream of Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 2:1-49). 
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which he forgot and 
which troubled him. He called in the magicians, 
soothsayers and astrologers of his realm, but not one 
could tell him his dream, so Daniel was brought in. 
In the meantime, in answer to prayer, the Lord had 
revealed Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten dream to Daniel, 
and, when he stood before the king, he told him that 
in his dream he had seen a great and terrible image 
with head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and 
thighs of brass, legs of iron and feet part of iron and 
part of clay. He told him, further, that he had seen 
a stone cut out without hands which smote the image 
upon the feet, broke them to pieces and then ground 
the image into chaff. The interpretation that Daniel 
gave of this dream was that the head of gold repre- 
sented Nebuchadnezzar ; the silver represented a king- 
dom that should follow his; the brass, a third king- 
dom, and the iron, a fourth kingdom, after which the 
kingdom of God, represented by the stone, should be 
set up. As a reward for his interpretation of this 
dream, Daniel was made a great man, and Shadrach, 

282 



THE CAPTIVITIES 



Meshach and Abed-nego were set over the affairs of 
the province of Babylon. 

(3) Nebuchadnezzar sets up an image of gold 
(Dan. 3:1-7). After this, Nebuchadnezzar made a 
great image of gold and set it up in the plain of 
Dura, in the province of Babylon, and issued a proc- 
lamation that at the sound of music all his subjects 
should fall down and worship the image which he 
had set up, saying that whoever refused to do this 
should be cast into a furnace of fire. 

(4) The three Hebrew children cast into the furnace 
(Dan. 3:8-30). But the three Hebrews, Shadrach, 
Meshach and Abed-nego, refused to worship the 
image, and, when their enemies discovered this, they 
went and told the king. Nebuchadnezzar was very 
wroth, and, calling the three Hebrews, he inquired if 
they had refused to serve his gods and to worship the 
image which he had set up. Shadrach, Meshach and 
Abed-nego replied that they had and that their God 
would deliver them from the fiery furnace. At this 
the king commanded them to be cast into the furnace. 
But, although the furnace was heated seven times hot- 
ter than it was wont to be heated, they suffered no 
harm, and, when Nebuchadnezzar looked in, he saw 
the form of a fourth which was "like the Son of God." 
Then the king rose up and delivered Shadrach, Me- 
shach and Abed-nego, and made a decree that any one 
who should speak a word amiss of the God of the 
Hebrews should be cut in pieces and his house be 
made a dunghill. 

(5) Nebuchadnezzar's madness (Dan. 4:1-37). 
Nebuchadnezzar had another dream and he called in 
all the wise men of Babylon, but they could not inter- 

283 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



pret it. Then he called in Daniel and told him that 
he had seen a tree growing in the midst of the earth 
of great height and fair leaves, under which the beasts 
of the field found shelter, and that he had seen a 
watcher come down from heaven who commanded 
that the tree be hewed down, but that the stump be 
left until seven times had passed over it. Daniel 
interpreted this dream to mean that Nebuchadnezzar 
should become mad and should be driven from men 
until seven times, or years, should pass over him. 
This interpretation was fulfilled the same hour, and 
Nebuchadnezzar was driven out as predicted. 

(6) Daniel's first vision under the reign of Bel- 
shazzar (Dan. 7: 1-28). In the first year of the reign 
of Belshazzar, Daniel had a vision in which he saw 
four great beasts come up out of the sea, diverse one 
from another. The first was like a lion with eagles' 
wings; the second was like a bear which raised itself 
up on one side and had three ribs in its mouth; the 
third was like a leopard with four wings and four 
heads, and the fourth was a beast, dreadful, terrible 
and strong, with iron teeth, and which stamped the 
residue with its feet. This beast had ten horns, 
among which came up a little horn which waxed great 
and rooted up three of the first horns. After this he 
saw the thrones cast down and the Ancient of days 
sit, the books opened, the world judged and the ever- 
lasting kingdom established. The angelic interpreta- 
tion of this vision was that the four beasts repre- 
sented four great kingdoms, the last to be divided 
into ten kings, or kingdoms, among whom should rise 
an eleventh who should root up three of the first 
and who should rule with a high hand until the judg- 

284 



THE CAPTIVITIES 



ment should sit and his dominion should be consumed 
and destroyed unto the end. After this the kingdom 
and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom were 
to be given to the saints of the Most High. 

(7) Daniel's second vision under the reign of Bel- 
shazzar (Dan. 8: 1-27). In the third year of the reign 
of King Belshazzar, Daniel had another vision, in 
which he was in the palace of Shushan, province of 
Elam, by the river Ulai. In this vision he saw a 
ram with two horns, one higher than the other, which 
came up last. And the ram pushed westward, north- 
ward and southward. He then saw a great he-goat, 
with a notable horn between his eyes, which came 
from the west and furiously smote the ram and broke 
off its two horns. Then he saw that the notable 
horn was broken, and that in its place there came 
up four others, out of one of which sprang a fifth, 
which became great toward the east, the south and 
the pleasant land. This vision Gabriel explained as 
follows : The ram with its two horns, represented 
Medo-Persia; the he-goat represented Grecia; the 
notable horn, its first king (Alexander) ; the four 
horns, the four divisions, or kingdoms, into which 
Grecia was to be divided (Egypt, Syria, Macedon and 
Thrace) ; and the little horn, a power that was after- 
wards to arise. This latter symbol has been variously 
applied to Antiochus, Rome, Mohammedanism and to 
a future antichrist. 

(8) The overthrow of Babylon and death of Bel- 
shazzar (Dan. 5: 1-30). Belshazzar, son of Nabonidus, 
made a great feast in Babylon to a thousand of his 
lords. During the orgies that followed, there came 
forth the fingers of a man's hand which wrote upon 

285 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



the wall the significant words, "Mene, Mene, Tekel, 
Upharsin." When the wise men of Babylon had 
failed to translate the writing, Daniel was sent for, 
and he told the king that it meant, "God hath num- 
bered thy kingdom, and finished it. Thou art weighed 
in the balances, and art found wanting. Thy kingdom 
is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." 
That same night Belshazzar was slain, and Darius 
the Mede took the kingdom. 

2. Daniel under the Persian kings. 

(1) The exaltation of Daniel under Darius (Dan. 
6:1-3). When Darius took the Babylonian throne, 
he set over the kingdom 120 princes, presided over by 
three presidents, of whom Daniel was the first. 

(2) Daniel cast into the lions' den (Dan. 6:4-28). 
As Daniel was preferred above all the rest, their 
jealousy was aroused and they sought to find occasion 
against him. So they went before the king and had 
him make a decree that any one who should ask a 
favor of any God or man, save of himself, for thirty 
days, should be cast into the den of lions. Daniel 
paid no attention to this decree, but prayed to his God 
regularly, three times a day, with his windows opened 
toward Jerusalem. When this was told the king, he 
was greatly displeased with himself for having made 
the decree, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him. 
But Daniel's enemies declared to the king that the 
laws of the Medes and Persians could not be changed, 
so the king commanded and Daniel was cast into the 
lions' den. So affected was the king that he spent 
the night in wakefulness and fasting, and early on the 
morrow went to the den, where he cried with a 
lamentable voice, and to his surprise he found Daniel 

286 



THE CAPTIVITIES 



alive. Then the king commanded and Daniel was 
taken out of the den and his enemies were cast in, 
and the king made a decree that throughout his 
dominions men should tremble and fear before the 
God of Daniel. 

(3) Daniel's first vision under Darius (Dan. 9 : 1- 
27). This vision is commonly known as the "vision 
of the seventy weeks." With B. C. 457 as starting- 
point, the "seventy weeks" (heptads), or 490 years, 
would stretch to A. D. 34, during which period all 
the things specified (Dan. 9 : 24) were accomplished. 
With the same date, which was the seventh year of 
the reign of Artaxerxes when the commandment was 
given to restore and to build Jerusalem, as a starting- 
point, the sixty-nine weeks would stretch to 27 A. D., 
the time of Christ's baptism, when he became in a 
true sense the Messiah ("anointed one"). Some have 
thought that the "one week" (v. 27) was the week of 
years lying between A. D. 27 and A. D. 34, in the 
midst of which Christ, by his death, nullified the force 
of the Jewish law ; others detach it from the sixty- 
nine and give it a place just before the beginning of 
the millennium. It seems, however, that the "he" of 
verse 27 is the "prince" of verse 26, which makes it 
necessary for us to commence this week of years at 
the beginning of the Roman-Jewish war, 66 A. D., 
and end it in 72) A. D. In 70 A. D., which would be 
"the midst of the week," Titus, "the prince," de- 
stroyed the Temple, and then for the first time the 
sacrifice and oblation, according to Josephus,^ ceased 
to be offered. 



* Josephus, "Wars," Book VI., Chap. II., p. 1. 
19 287 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



(4) Daniel's second vision under Darius (Dan. 11: 
1-12:13). This vision remarkably covers the history 
of the world from the time of Darius to the end of 
the age. 

(5) Daniel's vision under the reign of Cyrus (Dan. 
10: 1-21). This is known as "the vision of the glory 
of God." It was given to Daniel in the third year of 
Cyrus. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the causes of the captivities. When did Samaria fall? 
When were the first Jews taken to Babylon? When did Jeru- 
salem fall? Describe the condition of the times. Into how many 
periods may the history of Assyria be divided? Bound them 
chronologically. Give, in their order, the names of the kings of 
Assyria. Give the lands of the captivity of the ten tribes. What 
people succeeded the ten tribes? What was the condition of 
Israel after her deportation? Give Hosea's prophecy of hope. 
Tell how this prophecy has been explained. Into how many 
periods may the history of Babylon be divided? Bound them 
chronologically. Give, in their order, the names of the kings of 
Babylon. Describe the culture of Babylon. How many depor- 
tations of Jews were there? What was the condition of the cap- 
tive Jews ? Give the two periods in the history of Daniel. When 
was he taken captive to Babylon? Give the first dream of 
Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel's interpretation. Tell about the 
image which Nebuchadnezzar erected. Tell about the casting 
of the three Hebrew children into the fiery furnace. Describe 
Nebuchadnezzar's madness. Give Daniel's first vision under the 
reign of Belshazzar. Give his second vision. Describe the over- 
throw of Babylon. Who was Darius? What did he do to 
Daniel? Tell about Daniel being cast into the lions' den. De- 
scribe Daniel's first vision under Darius. Describe his second 
vision under Darius. What is his vision which was received 
under the reign of Cyrus called? 



288 



STUDY XXV. THE RETURN 

(Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai and Zechariah) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The promise of restoration. During the cap- 
tivity, the prophets, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, held out 
to the Jews the hope of restoration, predicting that 
they would return to their own land and rebuild the 
city of Jerusalem. Jeremiah prophesied that this would 
occur at the end of seventy years. 

"For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accom- 
plished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word 
toward you, in causing you to return to this place" ( Jer. 29 : 10) . 

2. The policy of the Persian kings. The policy of 
the Persian kings was a reversal of the policy of the 
kings of Assyria and Babylonia, in that they gave 
permission to the captive peoples to return to their 
native lands. 

3. The period of the return. The period of the 
return lay between the years 536 and 445 B. C. 

4. The leaders in the return. The leader of the 
first company of Jews to return to Palestine was 
Zerubbabel in 536. He was followed by Ezra in 457, 
and by Nehemiah in 445 B. C. Zerubbabel was the 
son of Shealtiel and of the royal house of David. 

289 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Ezra was a priest and a scribe. Nehemiah was a 
prince of Judah. 

I. THE RETURN UNDER ZERUBBABEL 

1. The decree of Cyrus (Ezra 1 : 1-4). In the first 
year of Cyrus he issued the following decree: 

"Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven 
hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth ; and he hath charged 
me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who 
is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and 
let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house 
of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. 
And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let 
the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with 
goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house 
of God that is in Jerusalem." 

2. The preparations for the return (Ezra 1:5-11). 
When this decree was issued, there rose up certain 
of the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, 
with the priests and Levites, who determined to re- 
turn to Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding the 
Temple. Into their hands were placed vessels of sil- 
ver and gold, with goods, beasts, precious things and 
freewill offerings. Cyrus also put into the hands of 
Zerubbabel the vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had 
taken from the first Temple. 

3. The number of those who returned (Ezra 2: 
1-70). In all, 49,897 people were in the company that 
left Babylon to go up to the land of Judah. This 
number included the common people, priests, Levites 
and the descendants of the servants of Solomon. 

4. The altar set up (Ezra 3:1-6). When this 
company reached the land of their fathers, they dwelt 
in their respective cities, but, in the seventh month, 

290 



THE RETURN 



gathered together at Jerusalem, where Zerubbabel 
and Jeshua, the high priest, erected the altar and 
offered burnt-offerings upon the same. They also 
kept the Feast of Tabernacles. 

5. The foundation of the Temple laid. (Ezra 3 : 7- 
13). Although the Jews observed the foregoing rites, 
the foundation of the Temple had not been laid, so 
they hired masons and carpenters and men of Tyre 
and Zidon to bring cedar-trees to Joppa from Lebanon 
according to the grant of Cyrus. And, in the second 
month of the second year, the foundation was laid 
amid great rejoicing. 

6. The help of the Samaritans offered and refused 
(Ezra 4:1-16). The Samaritans, learning that the 
Jews were rebuilding their Temple, came to Zerub- 
babel and the chief of the fathers and asked permis- 
sion to join forces with them and help in the work, 
stating that they worshiped the same God and that 
they had sacrificed to Him from the days of Esar- 
haddon. This proposal was indignantly rejected, and 
the Samaritans, enraged and disappointed, hired coun- 
selors at the Persian court and wrote defamatory 
letters to the reigning monarch, endeavoring to frus- 
trate the plan. 

7. The decree of Artaxerxes (Ezra 4: 17-22). 
When Artaxerxes, who at that time was on the Per- 
sian throne, received these false reports from the 
Samaritans, he issued a decree that the work should 
cease until he gave further commandment. 

8. The encouragement of the prophets (Ezra 4: 
23-5: 17). This message was brought to the Jews by 
the Samaritans Rehum and Shimshai, who made the 
Jews to cease their work by force and power. But 

291 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



the prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the 
people in the name of the Lord and they set them- 
selves to the work again. When Tatnai, the governor, 
heard this, he and his companions came and inquired 
who had commanded them to build the house and 
make up the wall. They replied that King Cyrus had 
issued a decree permitting them to return to their 
own land to build their Temple, and that their work 
was in fulfillment of that decree. These things the 
governor embodied in a letter which he wrote to 
Darius and in which he requested the king to ascer- 
tain whether or not the story was true. 

9. Cyrus* decree confirmed by Darius (Ezra 6:1- 
14). Darius, upon receiving the letter of Tatnai, 
caused that search be made in the ancient records for 
this edict. This was done and the decree was found. 
Then the king wrote Tatnai, instructing him to per- 
mit the Jews to continue their work, to render them 
whatever assistance they needed, and, if any one 
sought to hinder the work, to pull down his house 
and, taking the timber, to hang him to the same. 

10. The completion of the Temple and the restora- 
tion of the ancient worship (Ezra 6: 15-22). By this 
new assistance and the encouragement of their proph- 
ets, the Jews were greatly strengthened and greatly 
prospered. The Temple was finally completed on the 
third day of the month Adar (March), in the sixth 
year of the reign of Darius. At the dedicatory serv- 
ices, one hundred bullocks, two hundred rams and 
four hundred lambs were offered, besides twelve he- 
goats as a sin-offering for all Israel. Following the 
dedicatory exercises, the people kept the Passover 
upon the fourteenth day of the first month. 

292 



THE RETURN 



II. THE RETURN UNDER EZRA 

1. The expedition under Ezra (Ezra 7:1-10). In 
the seventh rear of the reign of Artaxerxes, Ezra, a 
scribe, left Babylon with a company to go up to 
Jerusalem. 

2. The decree of Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:11-8:14). 
To Ezra, Artaxerxes gave a letter in which he granted 
the privilege to those Jews in Babylon, who were so 
minded, to return to Jerusalem. He also authorized 
Ezra to collect money and other necessary things to 
assist in the work at that city, and also gave him 
power to appoint magistrates and judges to execute 
the law of Moses. 

3. The gathering and fast at Ahava (Ezra 8:15- 
23). Ezra gathered his company together at the river 
Ahava, where they abode in tents three days. At 
the expiration of this time, he reviewed the people 
and found that there were none of the sons of Levi 
among them, so he sent messengers to Iddo, the chief 
of the place Casiphia, and requested him to furnish 
them ministers for the house of God. Iddo sent to 
Ezra 258 Levites and Nethinims. Then Ezra pro- 
claimed a fast that they might secure the guidance 
and protection of the Lord on their journey, as he 
had been ashamed to require of the king a band of 
soldiers and horsemen. 

4. The arrival at Jerusalem (Ezra 8:24-36). Hav- 
ing committed into the hands of twelve of the chief 
of the priests the treasures of the Temple, Ezra and 
his company set out on the twelfth day of the first 
month for Jerusalem, and were led on their way by 
the hand of the Lord, who delivered them from their 

293 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



enemies. On the fourth day after their arrival in 
Jerusalem, the treasures for the Temple were weighed 
and the weights recorded, and all of those who had 
come up out of captivity offered burnt-offerings unto 
the Lord. Then Ezra delivered the king's commis- 
sion unto the king's lieutenants and governors. 

5. The complaint of the princes (Ezra 9:1-4). 
After this was done, the princes of the people came 
to Ezra with the complaint that the people of Israel, 
the priests and the Levites had not separated them- 
selves from the people of the land, but had inter- 
married with them and had done according to their 
abominations. Ezra rent his garments at this infor- 
mation, plucked out his hair and beard and sat as- 
tonished until the evening sacrifice. 

6. Ezra's prayer and confession (Ezra 9:5-15). 
At the time of the evening sacrifice, Ezra arose from 
his heaviness and, having rent his garment, fell on his 
knees before the Lord and confessed the sins of his 
people Israel. 

7. The people reseparated (Ezra 10:1-44). As 
Ezra was praying and weeping before the house of 
God, a large congregation assembled. When they 
heard the burden of his prayer, one of them, Shech- 
aniah, son of Jehiel, confessed that the Jews had done 
wrong in taking strange wives, and proposed that 
they make a covenant with their God to put away 
their strange wives and the children that had been 
born to them. Ezra, at these words, arose and made 
the congregation swear that they would do according 
to this suggestion. He then made a proclamation 
throughout Judah and Jerusalem urging the people 
to assemble at Jerusalem, and threatening that who- 

294 



THE RETURN 



ever refused to come within three days should forfeit 
his substance and should separate himself from the 
congregation of Israel. When the Jews had as- 
sembled, Ezra accused them of breaking the law of 
their God and charged them to put away their strange 
wives. To this the people replied: ''As thou hast 
said, so must we do." The separation was completed 
within the following three months. 

III. THE RETURN UNDER NEHEMIAH 

1. Nehemiah hears of the distress of the remnant 
(Neh. 1:1-3). In the twentieth year of the reign of 
Artaxerxes, Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah, was in 
the palace of Shushan when Hanani and certain 
others came down from Jerusalem with the tidings 
that the Jews were in great affliction and reproach 
and that the wall of the city was broken down and 
its gates burned with fire. 

2. The prayer of Nehemiah (Neh. 1:4-11). Nehe- 
miah wept at these sorrowful tidings and fasted cer- 
tain days, confessing the sins of his people and be- 
seeching the Lord to remember the word which he had 
commanded Moses, that if his people transgressed His 
law he would scatter them abroad, but that if they 
repented He would gather them again. 

3. Nehemiah sent to Jerusalem (Neh. 2: 1-10). In 
this same year, Nehemiah, who was the king's cup- 
bearer, offered him wine, but with a sad countenance. 
Observing this, the king inquired the cause, and when 
Nehemiah told him that it was due to the low con- 
dition of Jerusalem, and begged of him permission to 
return to the land of his fathers' sepulchres that he 
might build it up, Artaxerxes granted him the desired 

295 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



permission and gave him letters to Asaph, the keeper 
of the king's forest, and to the governors beyond the 
river. 

4. Nehemiah views the ruined walls (Neh. 2:11- 
16). Nehemiah had been in Jerusalem for three days 
when he went by night to view the ruined walls. 
This was done secretly so that neither the nobles, the 
priests nor the common people might know of it. 

5. The building of the walls (Neh. 2:17-3:32). 
When Nehemiah saw the dilapidated condition of the 
city, he encouraged the people to build the wall. 
With this encouragement, they began again, a certain 
portion of work being allotted to each family. 

6. The opposition of their enemies (Neh. 4:1-6: 
14). The enemies of the Jews — Sanballat the Horo- 
nite, Tobiah the servant, and Geshem the Arabian — 
being told that the Jews were rebuilding their walls, 
ridiculed them and asked: ''What do these feeble 
Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacri- 
fice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive 
the stones out of the heaps of rubbish which are 
burned?" Nehemiah answered these taunts with a 
prayer to God to give his enemies for a prey in the 
land of captivity. The opposition to Nehemiah and 
his work took various forms. In the first place, as 
the wall continued to go up, the enemies of Israel 
conspired to hinder the work, which required that 
the Jews keep watch both night and day. As the 
opposition became more bitter, Nehemiah divided the 
workmen into two bodies, one keeping watch while 
the other worked. In the second place, some of the 
Jews became tired and complained that there was so 
much rubbish that the wall could not be built. In 

296 



THE RETURN 



the third place, a number complained that while they 
were spending their time upon the wall, their breth- 
ren, who held mortgages upon their lands, were re- 
quiring usury, and that, as they were unable to pay 
this, their sons and daughters were brought into 
bondage. Nehemiah was exceedingly angry at this 
last complaint, and, calling the nobles and rulers to- 
gether, he rebuked them for exacting usury and urged 
them to remit the excessive interest that they had 
taken. Then, in order to set an example of unselfish- 
ness to the Jews, he lived as the common people and 
refused to eat the bread of the governor to which 
he was entitled because of his station. When San- 
ballat and the other enemies of Israel saw that their 
sarcasm and threatening had failed, and that the wall 
w^as surely being built, they tried by craft to circum- 
vent the plans of Nehemiah. They invited him first 
to counsel with them in a village in the plains of 
Ono, but this he refused to do, declaring that he was 
doing a great work and could not come down. They 
then wrote him an open letter in which they declared 
that the report was out that he intended to rebel and 
become king of the Jews, and that he had appointed 
prophets to preach at Jerusalem, saying: ''There is a 
king in Judah." This they threatened to carry to 
the king's ears. But these charges Nehemiah denied 
and prayed to the Lord to strengthen his hands. 
Afterwards they hired Shemaiah to decoy Nehemiah 
into the Temple with the story that his enemies were 
about to slay him and so cause him to sin that they 
might have an occasion against him. But here, again, 
Nehemiah foiled them and refused to go. 

7. The wall finished (Neh. 6: 15-19). The wall of 

297 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



the city was finally completed in the month Elul 
(September), provoking the envy and disappointment 
of the Jews' enemies. Among these was Tobiah the 
Ammonite, who was on favorable terms with a num- 
ber of the nobles of Judah, but who wrote Nehemiah 
letters to put him in fear. 

8. Hanani and Hananiah given charge of Jeru- 
salem (Neh. 7:1-4). The wall built, Nehemiah gave 
the city of Jerusalem into the charge of his brother 
Hanani, and Hananiah, the ruler of the palace, with 
the command that the gates thereof should not be 
opened until the sun was hot, and that watches should 
be appointed. Though the city was large, the in- 
habitants were comparatively few and the houses 
were not yet all built. 

9. The census taken (Neh. 7:5-73). Nehemiah 
now set about registering the genealogy of the people 
who had come up out of captivity. This included 
both the priests and the people, with a record also of 
their substance and gifts. By this census it was 
ascertained that the whole number of the people was 
42,360, besides 7,337 servants and 245 singing men 
and singing women. 

10. The law read and explained (Neh. 8:1-13). 
All of the people gathered themselves together as 
one man in the street that was before the water-gate 
in the city of Jerusalem and requested Ezra, the 
scribe, to bring out the book of the law of Moses. 
Ezra did this, and, standing on a pulpit of wood, he 
read and expounded the law to the people, being 
assisted in the expounding by others. He then 
blessed the Lord, and all the people responded 
**Amen" and worshiped with their faces to the ground. 

298 



THE RETURN 



11. The Feast of Tabernacles restored (Neh. 8 J 
14-18). When the children of Israel found in the law 
that they should dwell in booths in the feast of the 
seventh month, they prepared booths, and, when the 
time of the feast came, they dwelt in them seven 
days, while during this entire time, day by day, Ezra 
read out of the book of the law. 

12. The people fast, repent and confess (Neh. 9: 
1-10:39). On the twenty- fourth day of the seventh 
month the people assembled and with fasting and con- 
fession of sin separated themselves, both the priests 
and the people, from the strangers of the land. They 
also made a covenant of separation which was sealed 
by their princes, Levites and priests. 

13. The division of the people (Neh. 11: 1-12:26). 
The rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem, and the 
rest of the people cast lots to bring one of every ten 
to dwell in the city, so that one-tenth dwelt in 
Jerusalem and nine-tenths dwelt in the other cities. 

14. The walls of the city dedicated (Neh. 12:27- 
43). Nehemiah gathered together the people to dedi- 
cate the walls of Jerusalem. He divided the nobles 
into two companies which he placed at different 
points upon the wall. These gave thanks unto the 
Lord and offered sacrifices and rejoiced with joy. 

15. The restoration of the Temple order (Neh. 12: 
44-47). At this time, treasurers were appointed to 
receive tithes, and also singers and porters for the 
Temple. 

16. Tobiah cast out of the Temple (Neh. 13: 1-14). 
It was discovered in the law that the Ammonite and 
the Moabite should not come into the congregation 
of God, because they had not met Israel with bread 

299 



tHE Gist 6f the bible 



and water and had sent Balaam to curse them. When 
this was ascertained, the people separated from them 
the mixed multitude. But Eliashib the priest, who 
had charge of the Temple, had prepared a chamber 
therein for Tobiah. Nehemiah was at Babylon at this 
time, but, obtaining leave of the king, he returned to 
Jerusalem, and, when he had discovered what Eliashib 
had done, it grieved him sore and he cast out of 
the chamber all of Tobiah's stuff, after which he 
commanded that the chamber be cleansed and the 
vessels of the house of God, with the meat-offering 
and the frankincense, be brought therein. 

17. The profanation of the sabbath (Neh. 13:15- 
22). Nehemiah also saw certain Jews doing divers 
kinds of work on the sabbath, and men of Tyre, like- 
wise, came into the city with fish and all manner of 
wares which they sold to the people on that holy day. 
This greatly incensed Nehemiah, and he complained 
to the nobles and commanded that the gate should be 
kept closed throughout the sabbath. He also set 
watches to see that no burdens were brought into the 
city. By this the merchants and sellers were forced 
to lodge without the walls, but Nehemiah went to 
them and asked them why they lodged there, telling 
them that if they did so again he would lay hands 
upon them. 

18. Nehemiah rebukes the intermarriage of the 
Jews with other races (Neh. 13:23-31). Nehemiah 
also saw Jews who had married wives from among 
the Philistines, Ammonites and Moabites. And the 
children of some of them spoke half in the language 
of Ashdod and could not speak the clear speech of 
Israel. This enraged him and he cursed them, smote 

300 



THE RETURN 



them, plucked out their hair, and made them swear 
that they would cease to give their sons heathen 
wives and their daughters heathen husbands. One 
of those who were guilty was a son of Joiada, the 
high priest, who was son-in-law to Sanballat. 

QUESTIONS 

What hope did the prophets hold out to the captive Jews? 
How long did Jeremiah predict that the captivity would con- 
tinue? State the difference between the policy of the Persian 
kings and that of those of Assyria and Babylonia. Locate 
the period of the return. Name the leaders of the return. Who 
was high priest at the time of the return? Give the decree of 
Cyrus. What preparations were made for the return? How 
many returned under Zerubbabel ? What was the first thing that 
the Jews did after their return? Tell about the laying of the 
foundation of the Temple. Who offered assistance? Was it 
accepted or refused? What did the Samaritans then do? What 
did Haggai and Zechariah do? How was Cyrus' decree con- 
firmed by Darius? Tell about the completion of the Temple. 
Who was Ezra? In what year did he return? Give the decree 
of Artaxerxes. Where did Ezra gather his company and what 
did they do there? What did they do when they arrived at 
Jerusalem? What complaint did the princes make? What did 
Ezra do? Tell about the reseparation of the people. Who was 
Nehemiah? How did he hear of the distress of the people? 
What did he do upon receipt of this news? How did he happen 
to go to Jerusalem? When did he view the ruined walls? What 
did he urge the people to do? What opposition did he receive? 
When was the wall finished? How did it make the enemies of 
Judah feel? Into whose hands did he give the city? Tell about 
the taking of the census. Tell about the reading and explaining 
of the law. Tell about the restoration of the Feast of Tabernacles. 
What did the people do at this time? Tell about the division of 
the people. How were the walls dedicated? For what were 
treasurers appointed? Who was cast out of the Temple, and 
why? How was the sabbath profaned? What sin did Nehemiah 
rebuke? 

301 



STUDY XXVL THE PROPHETS 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The prophets. The prophets of Israel were not 
merely foretellers of future events, but were also 
forthtellers of God's will and present conditions. The 
word "prophet" means, simply, "one who speaks 
forth," with no intimation as to the nature of the mes- 
sage, whether it be predictive, exhortative or con- 
demnatory. 

2. The early prophets of Israel. We have already 
mentioned, or given an account of, several of the 
earlier prophets of Israel. Of these were Moses, 
Nathan, Gad, Elijah and Elisha, all of whom are de- 
clared to have possessed the prophetic gift. The 
prophets about whom we are to study in the present 
lesson lived after the division of the kingdom, and 
their prophecies are recorded in the Old Testament. 

3. The schools of the prophets. The schools of 
the prophets were institutions where divine truth was 
studied and sacred psalmody was practiced. The first 
of these schools was founded by Samuel at Ramah. 
Here he gathered about him a number of men for the 
purposes mentioned, who lived in huts made of the 
branches of trees. During the reign of Ahab there 
were three of these schools comparatively close to- 
gether — at Bethel, Jericho and Gilgal. Those who 
attended these schools were known as the "sons of 
the prophets." 

302 



THE PROPHETS 



4. The classification of prophecy. The prophecies 
of the Bible may be classified as follows : 

(1) The literal and the symbolical. A literal proph- 
ecy is one that is to be understood according to the 
primary and natural import of the words in which it 
is expressed. Examples: Num. 15:21-35; Jer. 25:1- 
33. A symbolical prophecy is one that is expressed 
in symbols. Examples : Most of the prophecies of 
the Books of Daniel and Revelation. 

(2) The discursive and the consecutive. A dis- 
cursive prophecy presents future events irrespective 
of the order of their occurrence. Examples: Isaiah 
and the Minor Prophets. A consecutive prophecy 
gives future events in the order in which they will 
transpire. Examples : Daniel and Revelation. 

(3) The conditional and the unconditional. The 
fulfillment of a conditional prophecy depends upon 
those to whom it is addressed meeting certain con- 
ditions, either stated or implied. Example : Lev. 26 : 
3, 4. An unconditional prophecy is one in which all 
predictions are absolute in their nature. Example : 
Num. 14:21. 

5. The prophetic groups. The prophets of Israel 
may be divided into four groups, as follows : 

(1) The prophets of Israel: Jonah, Amos and 
Hosea. 

(2) The prophets of Judah: Isaiah, Joel, MIcah, 
Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah and Habakkuk. 

(3) The prophets of the captivity: Daniel, Obadlah 
and Ezekiel. 

(4) The post-exilic prophets: Haggai, Zechariah and 
Malachi. 

20 303 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Taken in their chronological order, the prophets 
are as follows: 

I. JONAH 

(856-784 B. C/) 

1. Who Jonah was (Jonah 1:1; 2 Kings 14:25). 
Jonah was the son of Amittai and was born in Gath- 
hepher. Although no era is assigned to him in his 
prophecy, he undoubtedly flourished in, or just before, 
the reign of Jeroboam 11. and predicted the con- 
quests, enlargement and prosperity of the Israelite 
kingdom under that monarch's sway. 

2. Jonah commanded to go to Nineveh (Jonah 1 : 
1-16). The Lord commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh 
to preach to the Ninevites. But, instead, he went to 
Joppa, where he took a ship for Tarshish. On the 
way a great storm arose and, at Jonah's own sugges- 
tion, he was thrown overboard. 

3. Jonah swallowed by a great fish (Jonah 1 : 17- 
2:10). But the Lord prepared a great fish^ to swal- 
low Jonah, and he was in its belly for three days and 
three nights. During this time he prayed to the 
Lord, and the fish vomited him up on dry land. 

4. Jonah receives a second commission (Jonah 3: 
1-10). Jonah then received his second commission to 
go to Nineveh. This time he obeyed, and when he 
entered that city he cried : "Yet forty days, and Nin- 
eveh shall be overthrown." At this the Ninevites re- 
pented, and the Lord turned from the evil which he 
had pronounced against them. 



» In these dates I have followed the "Self-interpreting Bible," Vol. I., 
p. 37. 

2 This fish was not a "whale," but a fish specially and miraculously 
"prepared" for that particular occasion. 

304 



THE PROPHETS 



5. The displeasure of the prophet and the shelter- 
ing gourd (Jonah 4:1-11). Jonah was bitterly dis- 
pleased with this manifestation of mercy and com- 
plained to the Lord. At which the Lord asked: 
"Doest thou well to be angry?" Jonah then went 
outside the city and built him a booth, and sat under 
it until he might see what would become of the city. 
The Lord prepared a gourd to shadow Jonah, which 
pleased him exceedingly, whereupon God prepared a 
worm which smote the gourd and on the morrow it 
withered. Then God sent a vehement east wind, and 
it blew upon the head of the prophet and he fainted 
and wished that he could die. At this God said: 
"Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou 
hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which 
came up in a night, and perished in a night: and 
should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein 
are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot 
discern between their right hand and their left hand; 
and also much cattle?" 

II. AMOS 

(810-795 B. C.) 

1. The nativity of Amos (Amos 1:1; 7:14). 
Amos was a shepherd and a gatherer of sycamore 
fruit who lived in Tekoa, a town six miles south of 
Bethlehem. Although of Judah, he prophesied to the 
northern kingdom. 

2. The time of his prophecy (Amos 1:1). The 
time of Amos' prophecy is said to have been in the 
days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam XL, 
king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 

305 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



3. The subjects of Amos' prophecy. The prophecy 
of Amos begins with the prediction of certain judg- 
ments to fall upon those nations which surrounded 
Israel. After this he strongly condemns the sins of 
his own people, warns them of the consequences 
and predicts their captivity, but ends with a glowing 
description of the future glory of the Davidic king- 
dom. 

III. HOSEA 

(810-725 B. C.) 

Nothing is known with certainty of the nativity of 
the prophet Hosea. It is stated that he prophesied 
in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, 
kings of Judah, and Jeroboam II., king of Israel, 
hence that he was a contemporary of Amos in Israel 
and Isaiah and Micah in Judah. He prophesied at a 
critical time in the history of the northern kingdom. 
Israel had deeply sinned and the Assyrians were 
marching to their overthrow. Yet his prophecy is not 
wholly hopeless and he predicts their final restora- 
tion (1:10, 11; 3:4, 5). 

IV. ISAIAH 

(810-698 B. C.) 

1. The life of Isaiah. Isaiah, the son of Amoz, 
prophesied in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and 
Hezekiah, kings of Judah. He was a married man; 
had two sons, Shear-jashub and Maher-shalal-hash- 
baz, and his wife was a prophetess (8:3). His were 
stirring and critical times, as he lived during the in- 
vasions of Tiglath-pileser, Shalmaneser, Sargon and 
Sennacherib. Some have contended that he lived 



THE PROPHETS 



into the reign of Manasseh, when, a Hebrew tradition 
says, he was sawn asunder. 

2. The subjects of Isaiah's prophecy. The proph- 
ecy of Isaiah opens with this introduction : "The vision 
of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning 
Judah and Jerusalem." It contains predictions con- 
cerning the Jews, the neighboring nations, the two 
advents of the Messiah and the glory yet to be re- 
vealed in millennial times. Isaiah has been called the 
"gospel prophet" because of his frequent allusions to 
Christ (9:6, 7; 11:1-16; 53:1-12, etc.). 

3. The integrity of Isaiah. The integrity of Isaiah 
has been attacked by the critics. Delitzsch, after at 
first defending the view of the unity of the book, 
surrendered the prophecies found in Isa. 13:1-14:23; 
21 : 1-10; chapters 24-27; chapters 34 and 35, and stated 
that they "can not really, as hitherto generally as- 
sumed, have been composed by Isaiah." Others de- 
clare that the book is simply a complication of frag- 
ments and that it bears the marks of many hands. 
Some of these fragments, they tell us, are genuine, 
while some others are as recent as the first century 
B. C. Until these critical difficulties are fully settled, 
it will be well for the ordinary student to rest on the 
assumption that the book is wholly the work of 
Isaiah, the son of Amoz. 

V. JOEL 

(810-660 B. C.) 

But very little is known of this prophet outside 
of the fact that he was the son of Pethuel. He proph- 
esied to Judah, probably at Jerusalem, although the 

307 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



time of his prophesying is uncertain. He describes a 
desolating scourge of locusts that was to come upon 
the land, and which some explain literally and some 
figuratively; the invasion of hostile armies; the pour- 
ing out of the Holy Spirit; the celestial signs and 
deliverance to follow; the gathering of the nations 
to judgment, and the restoration of Israel. 

VI. MICAH 

(758-699 B. C.) 

Micah was a native of Moresheth in Gath, and 
prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and 
Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and Pekahiah, Pekah and 
Hoshea, kings of Israel. His prophecy was addressed 
to both Samaria and Jerusalem, although it chiefly 
concerned the former. It contains a denunciation of 
Israel, a promise to the remnant, a prediction of the 
captivities, the announcement of the coming of the 
kingdom and the peace to follow, and points out the 
birthplace of Jesus Christ. 

VII. NAHUM 

(720-698 B. C.) 

Nahum the Elkoshite prophesied in the days of 
Hezekiah, king of Judah. His prophecy was directed 
against Nineveh. 

VIII. ZEPHANIAH 

(640-609 B. C.) 

Zephaniah was "the son of Cushi, the son of 
Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah," 
and prophesied against Judah and Jerusalem in the 

308 



THE PROPHETS 



days of Josiah, son of Amon. He foretells the com- 
ing invasion of Nebuchadnezzar, predicts the judg- 
ments that would come upon the neighboring nations, 
and holds out to his people the hope of restoration. 

IX. JEREMIAH 

(628-586 B. C.) 

1. The account of Jeremiah. Jeremiah was the son 
of Hilkiah, a priest of Anathoth, in the land of Ben- 
jamin. He began to prophesy in the days of the good 
King Josiah, with whom he was probably on intimate 
terms. We hear nothing of him during the three 
months of the reign of Jehoahaz, but in the beginning 
of the reign of Jehoiakim he prophesied against the 
city and the land, which drew upon his head the 
animosity of the priests and prophets to such a de- 
gree that he was brought before the civil authorities, 
and capital punishment would have been inflicted 
upon him had it not been for the interference of the 
princes, especially of Ahikam (chap. 26). But, in 
the fourth year of this king, Jeremiah was commanded 
to take a roll and to write therein all the words which 
the Lord had spoken against Israel, Judah and the 
surrounding nations. When this roll was read to the 
king, he was greatly displeased, and, cutting it with 
a penknife, he threw it into the fire. Then Jeremiah 
was commanded to take another roll and to write in 
it not only those words which were in the first, but 
also to add a prediction of the miserable death of 
Jehioakim (chap. 36). Under Zedekiah, Jeremiah 
continued to utter warnings, for which he was cast 
into prison, where he remained until Nebuchadnezzar 

309 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



took the city, when he was released and was shown 
due consideration by the Babylonian king (39: 11, 12). 
When the greater part of the Jewish people were 
taken to Babylon, the prophet remained behind with 
the remnant under Gedaliah, and, after the death of 
this governor, went with the Jews to Egypt, where 
he ended his days. The contemporaries of Jeremiah 
were Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Ezekiel and Daniel. 

2. The contents of Jeremiah's prophecy. While 
Jeremiah concerned himself mainly with events and 
conditions near at hand, as the sins of the people, the 
Babylonish captivity and the restoration therefrom, 
we find him occasionally breaking away from these 
and describing things to transpire in the distant fu- 
ture. He refers particularly to the coming of the 
Messiah, His kingship and the establishment of the 
New Covenant. 

X. HABAKKUK 

(612-598 B. C.) 

Of the birth, lineage and Hfe of this prophet we 
have no certain knowledge. He probably prophesied 
during the latter years of King Josiah. He empha- 
sizes the thought of the spirituality of God and pre- 
dicts the time when ''the earth shall be filled with 
the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters 
cover the sea." 

XI. DANIEL 

(606-534 B. C.) 

1. The account of Daniel. Daniel was probably 
of royal blood. When but a youth, he was taken to 
Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, where he was instructed 

310 



THE PROPHETS 



in all the learning of that country. By his interpreta- 
tion of dreams, he gained admittance into the pres- 
ence of the king and was made ruler over the prov- 
ince of Babylon. When the Persians took the king- 
dom, Daniel was made the first of three presidents 
who presided over the affairs of state. Because of 
his refusal to ask a petition of the king and of his 
strict adherence to the faith of his fathers, he was 
cast into a den of lions, from whose mouths he was 
miraculously saved. He lived to a good old age and 
to see his people restored to their own land. 

2. The authenticity of Daniel. Perhaps no book in 
the entire Bible has met with more severe criticism 
at the hands of the higher critics than has the Book 
of Daniel. In the third century A. D., Porphyry the 
Syrian first attacked it and declared that it was not 
a production of the man Daniel in Babylon, 607-538 
B. C, but of some unknown writer in the Maccabean 
period, subsequent to 164 B. C. This position was 
later defended by the infidel Collins in the beginning 
of the eighteenth century, and has been held by the 
large body of higher critics ever since. This theory, 
however, has been fully met and refuted, as have also 
the strongest of the objections to the authenticity of 
this book, which have been shown to be founded upon 
our ignorance of ancient history, our want of a 
sound exegesis and the perversion of a few pas- 
sages in the text. In the investigations that have 
been carried on, the Book of Daniel has in almost 
every instance certainly come off victor, and many 
of the accounts and references which have hereto- 
fore been considered unhistorical are now accepted 
without question. 

311 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



XII. OBADIAH 

(588-583 B. C.) 

Of this prophet we know but very little, and even 
the date of his prophecy is uncertain. Some have 
placed him in the reign of Ahaz, others in the reign 
of Josiah, and still others during the Babylonian cap- 
tivity, as here. His prophecy concerns Edom, whose 
great sin in doing violence to the Jews he describes 
and whose humiliation and final overthrow he pre- 
dicts. 

XIII. EZEKIEL 

(583-562 B. C.) 

1. The account of Ezekiel. This prophet was the 
son of Buzi the priest, and, according to tradition, 
was born in Serera. We first find him with the ex- 
iled Jews on the river Chebar in Mesopotamia, where, 
in the fifth year of the captivity, he received his com- 
mission as prophet. He seems to have been a person 
of considerable importance among the exiles, as there 
are repeated intimations that the elders consulted him 
as to what messages God had sent through him. He 
continued to prophesy for at least twenty-two years, 
and probably remained with the captives on Chebar 
throughout his whole life. 

2. The prophecies of Ezekiel. The unity and gen- 
uineness of Ezekiel have never been questioned. His 
predictions concern the destruction of Jerusalem and 
the captivity of the Jews, judgments upon various 
nations and the final restoration of the kingdom and 

its blessings. 

312 



THE PROPHETS 



XIV. HAGGAI 

(520-518 B. C.) 

This prophet prophesied after the return of the 
Jews from Babylon and in the second year of Darius 
Hystaspes. His prophecy was to encourage the Jews 
to prosecute the building of the Temple. 

XV. ZECHARIAH 

(520-518 B. C.) 

Zechariah was the son of Berechiah, the son of 
Iddo the prophet. He was the contemporary of 
Haggai, and, like him, sought to encourage the re- 
turned Jews in the work of rebuilding the Temple. 
But he does not alone concern himself with events 
and conditions near at hand. Here and there we find 
graphic and glowing descriptions of the coming and 
reign of the Messiah, with the final victory and rest 
of Israel. 

XVI. MALACHI 

(436-420 B. C.) 

Malachi, the last of the prophets, prophesied, prob- 
ably, during the confusion which followed Nehemiah's 
return to Babylon, after he had led his company of 
Jews to Jerusalem. The burden of his message is 
the love of God for Israel, the sins of the priests and 
the people and the coming of the Lord. 

QUESTIONS 

Define the term "prophet." Mention the names of some of 
the early prophets of Israel. About what prophets are we to 
study in this lesson? What were the schools of the prophets? 
Who was their founder? Where was the first school founded? 

313 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



How many existed in the days of Ahab, and where? Define the 
difiference between a literal and symbolical prophecy. Between a 
conditional and an unconditional prophecy. Between a discursive 
and a consecutive prophecy. Into how many groups are the 
prophets of Israel to be divided? Name the prophets of Israel. 
Name the prophets of Judah. Name the prophets of the 
captivity. Name the post-exilic prophets. Who was Jonah? To 
what city did God command him to go? What did Jonah do? 
What happened to him? Tell about his second commission. Why 
was Jonah displeased with the Lord? Who was Amos and when 
did he prophesy? Tell about Hosea. Give an account of Isaiah. 
What is he sometimes called, and why? What can you say about 
the integrity of his book? Give an account of Joel. Of Micah. 
Of Nahum. Of Zephaniah. Of Jeremiah. Of what did Jeremiah 
prophesy? Tell about Habakkuk. Give an account of Daniel. 
Who was the first to attack the authenticity of the Book of 
Daniel? To what date did Porphyry assign this book? What 
effect has critical investigation had upon its question of author- 
ship? Who was Obadiah? Give an account of Ezekiel. What 
can you say about the unity and genuineness of this book? To 
what do the prophecies of Ezekiel relate? Who was Haggai? 
Who was Zechariah? When did they prophesy? Why did they 
prophesy? Tell about Malachi. 



314 



PART III. INTERBIBLICAL HISTORY 

Study XXVII. The Persian Period. 

Study XXVIII. The Grecian Period. 

Study XXIX. The Maccabean Period. 

Study XXX. The Roman Period. 



315 



STUDY XXVII. THE PERSIAN PERIOD 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The Medo-Persian peoples. The Medes and 
Persians were related peoples of the Aryan stock 
who occupied contiguous territory. The Medes 
were first mentioned in the Assyrian inscriptions 
about 820 B. C. They were subsequently subdued 
by Tiglath-pileser 11. and his successors. The leg- 
endary history of Persia extends some thousands of 
years back of the beginning of the Christian era, but 
it is very much confused, on account of which we can 
know but little definitely of those early times. For 
most that we do know we are indebted to the Greek 
historians Herodotus, Xenophon and Ctesias. 

2. The country of the Medes and Persians. The 
country inhabited by the Medes and Persians lies 
directly east of Assyria and Babylonia. It is a 
plateau and is called, in the native tongue, Iran. 

3. The period of Persian supremacy. The period 
of Persian supremacy lay between the years 538 
B. C, the date of the overthrow of Babylon, and 
331 B. C, the date of the overthrow of the Persians 
by Alexander the Great. 

I. MEDO-PERSIAN HISTORY 

Medo-Persian history naturally falls into two 
divisions: that under the supremacy of the Medes 
and that under the supremacy of the Persians. 

317 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



1. The Median kings. 

(1) Deioces (740-687 B. C). In the year 740 
B. C. the Medes revolted against the Assyrian power 
and chose Deioces as their king. This monarch 
founded his capital at Ecbatana and established a 
court with a severe ceremonious etiquette. Much 
that has been written about this king, however, is 
purely mythical. 

(2) Phraortes (687-633 B. C). The first real 
king of Media was Phraortes, called the son of 
Deioces. He conquered the Persians and carried 
his arms into upper Asia. He was killed in a war 
with Assyria in 633 B. C. 

(3) Cyaxares (633-593 B. C). After Phraortes, 
Cyaxares, his son, ascended the Median throne and 
continued the Assyrian war to avenge his father's 
death. He formed an alliance with Nabopolassar, 
king of Babylon, and with his assistance overthrew 
Nineveh (625 B. C). He also overcame the Scythians. 
Under him the Medes reached the zenith of their 
glory. 

(4) Astyages (593-558 B. C). Upon the death 
of Cyaxares, Astyages, his son, took the throne. He 
maintained a peaceful alliance with both Lydia and 
Babylon. He was the maternal grandfather of 
Cyrus the Great. 

2. The Persian kings. 

(1) Achaemenes. The first king of Persia was 
Achaemenes, who was a member of the royal tribe 
of the Pasargadse. From him all the subsequent kings 
of Persia were descended. 

(2) Cyrus (558-529 B. C). For the first one 
hundred years of their history, the Persians were 

318 




319 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



dependent upon the Medes. But in 558 B. C, under 
Cyrus, they gained their independence, Astyages was 
made a prisoner, and Persia became the sovereign 
power. Cyrus was a warrior and conquered Lydia, 
overthrew Babylon and subdued the Massagetse. It 
was in a battle with these barbarians that he lost 
his life. 

(3) Cambyses (529-522 B. C). Cyrus was suc- 
ceeded by his son Cambyses, who inherited his 
father's warlike ambition. He first invaded Egypt 
and subdued that country. He then made an unsuc- 
cessful invasion into Ethiopia. After this he has- 
tened home to quell a revolt under Smerdis, but on 
the way was accidentally killed with his own sword. 

(4) Pseudo-Smerdis (522-521 B. C). This king 
was an impostor who reigned but eight months, 
when he was slain through a conspiracy of seven 
princes, and Darius Hystaspes, one of the seven, 
took the throne, 

(5) Darius Hystaspes (521-486 B. C). The first 
part of the reign of this king was spent in quelling 
revolts. When these revolts were put down, Darius, 
to guard against further disturbance, reorganized his 
kingdom and strengthened his army. He also en- 
hanced the glory of his court. After settling the 
internal dissensions of his kingdom, Darius turned 
his attention to foreign conquests. He led an expe- 
dition against the Punjab, or "Five Rivers," of 
western India, and acquired this rich gold tract. 
With an army of over seven hundred thousand men, 
he invaded the country of the Scythians in central 
Europe and defeated them, but was afterwards 
forced to retire for the want of food and water. 

320 



THE PERSIAN PERIOD 



Darius was next called to the field to quell a revolt 
of the Greeks. At first he was successful, but, fired 
with anger, he determined to punish the Greeks 
more severely, and, leading a force of one hun- 
dred thousand men, he met them upon the field 
of Marathon (490 B. C.). Here he was signally 
defeated, and, returning home, died in the year 486 
B. C. 

(6) Xerxes I. (486-465 B. C.). Darius was suc- 
ceeded by Xerxes L, the Ahasuerus of the Book of 
Esther. In the second year of his reign he quelled 
revolts in Egypt and Babylonia, and in the seventh 
led in his celebrated invasion of Greece. Gathering 
together an army of 1,700,000 foot soldiers, with 20,- 
000 chariots and camels, 80,000 horse and a fleet of 
over 4,000 vessels, manned by 517,000 men, he invaded 
that country. It was during the campaign that en- 
sued that Leonidas so bravely met the Persians at 
Thermopylae. Following this battle, the Greeks and 
Persians met in a number of naval engagements, but 
no decisive advantage was gained by either side until 
in the sea-fight off Salamis the Persians were defeated. 
Xerxes then withdrew to his own land and spent 
the remainder of his life in indolence and luxury. 
After reigning twenty years, he was murdered by 
the captain of his guard. 

(7) Artaxerxes I. (465-425 B. C.). After the 
death of Xerxes, his assassin placed upon the throne 
his youngest son, Artaxerxes Longimanus. This king 
was first engaged in putting down a revolt in Egypt 
and in warring with the Athenians, who had assisted 
that country. In the seventh and twentieth years of 
his reign, respectively, Ezra and Nehemiah led their 

321 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



companies of Jews back to Jerusalem. Artaxerxes 
reigned forty years. 

(8) Xerxes 11. (425 B. C). This king, the son 
of Artaxerxes, reigned just forty-five days, when he 
was assassinated by his half-brother, Sogdianus. 

(9) Sogdianus (425-424 B. C). Sogdianus reigned 
but about six months, when he was deposed and put 
to death by another half-brother, Ochus. 

(10) Darius 11. (424-405 B. C). Ochus took the 
throne and assumed the name of Darius II. During 
the nineteen years of his reign this king was the 
mere tool of his wife, Parysatis, a woman noted for 
her wickedness and cruelty. Under his rule the 
Egyptians revolted and were successful in regaining 
their independence, while the Medes failed in a 
similar attempt. Darius, however, gained one advan- 
tage in the recovery of certain Greek cities of Asia 
Minor. 

(11) Artaxerxes 11. (405-359 B. C). This king is 
known as Artaxerxes Mnemon for his wonderful 
memory. During the latter years of his father's 
life, his brother, Cyrus, had attempted to gain the 
throne, so, when Artaxerxes ascended the same, he 
cast Cyrus into prison. Afterwards, however, the 
young prince, through the intervention of his 
mother, was not only released, but was restored to 
his satrapy. Later he headed a revolt in which he 
lost his life. The Spartans, by allying themselves 
with Cyrus, had given great ofifense to Artaxerxes, 
so they decided to be the first movers in the war 
which they knew must certainly ensue. But Arta- 
xerxes formed an alliance with Athens and others of 
the minor Greek states, and so reduced Sparta to 

322 



THEJ PERSIAN PERIOD 



humiliation. After this, with a desire to restore the 
empire to the greatness that it enjoyed under Darius 
Hystaspes, Artaxerxes sent an expedition to reduce 
Egypt, but this expedition failed through the jeal- 
ousy of the commanding officers. Egypt then re- 
taliated and attempted to take Syria and Phoenicia, 
but her movements were defeated by management and 
gold. 

(12) Artaxerxes III. (359-338 B. C). At the 
death of Artaxerxes II., his youngest son, Ochus, 
assumed the throne under the title of Artaxerxes 
III. He was a monarch of energy and spirit and 
attempted to retrieve the fortunes of his failing 
empire. But he was extremely jealous and sus- 
picious, and one of the first acts to blot his name 
was the murder of the entire royal race. Having 
quelled a revolt in Asia Minor, he attempted the 
subjugation of Egypt, but was defeated. His defeat 
was the signal for innumerable revolts, and province 
after province threw ofif the yoke of his tyranny. But 
Artaxerxes was more than a match for his enemies 
and subdued them in the most bloody manner. Hav- 
ing established the peace of his kingdom, he aban- 
doned himself to the pleasures of his palace. He 
died of poison at the hand of his minister, Bagoas, in 
the year 338 B. C. 

(13) Arses (338-336 B. C). Bagoas not only slew 
Artaxerxes, but also all of the royal princes, with 
the exception of the youngest. Arses, whom he 
placed upon the throne. But, at the expiration of 
two years, being alarmed by the independent char- 
acter of the young king, Bagoas added him also to 
the number of his victims, after which he placed 

323 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



upon the throne Darius Codomannus, the grandson 
of Darius 11. 

(14) Darius III. (336-331 B. C). Darius began 
his reign by executing the wretch who had bestowed 
upon him the crown. Distinguished for his personal 
beauty, he was also noted for the uprightness and 
benevolence of his character. It was under his 
reign that Alexander the Great began his conquest 
of the world, and Darius met his defeat at the hands 
of this general in the battle of Arbela (331 B. C). 
He was assassinated by one of his own satraps, 
Bessus, who mortally wounded him and left him by 
the roadside to die. 

II. THE CULTURE OF THE PERSIANS 

1. The character of the Persians. The Persians 
were a hardy race, brave in war and rude in manners, 
who abstained from all luxuries of both food and 
dress. Though not highly intellectual, they were 
fond of both poetry and art. 

2. The government of the Persians. The Persian 
theory of government was an advance over the 
theories of the other Oriental nations of early times 
and, though a real imperial dominion, was particu- 
larly mild in character. 

3. The architecture of the Persians. In architec- 
tural art the Persians were the pupils of the Assyr- 
ians and the Babylonians. However, they did not 
imitate the architectural designs of their masters, but 
adapted them in such a way that they became their 
own. Their great masterpieces of architecture con- 
sist of palaces and tombs and belong to a class 
which stands midway between the massive works of 

324 



THE PERSIAN PERIOD 



the Egyptian and the Assyrian and the perfect 
beauty of the Grecian. 

4. The literature of the Persians. But few frag- 
ments of the literature of the ancient Iranic race 
have survived. The most important of these is the 
collection of sacred books called the Zend Avesta, 
which was compiled by Zoroaster, the great religious 
teacher of the Persians, probably about the time of 
Abraham. 

5. The religion of the Persians. The religion of 
the Persians was much purer and nobler than that 
of the other ancient civilized nations. They were 
not idolaters, but worshiped a single Supreme Being, 
called Ormazd, who was looked upon as the great 
principle of light. Opposed to Ormazd was Ahriman, 
the principle of darkness. But this pure system of 
faith was subsequently corrupted with fire-worship, 
or Magianism, which the Medes had borrowed from 
the Scythians. The old theory that Cyrus, the first 
great king of Persia, was a native Persian and a 
monotheist, which some have derived from certain 
passages in the Old Testament, will now, however, 
have to be given up. The inscriptions make it cer- 
tain that he was both an Elamite and a polytheist. 
Monotheism was not introduced as the Persian state 
religion until the reign of Darius, the son of Hystas- 
pes, who was a Zoroastrian. 

III. THE BOOK OF ESTHER 

The Book of Esther is a history of events that 
occurred under the reign of the Persian monarch, 
Xerxes I., or Ahasuerus. It may be outlined as 
follows : 

325 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



1. Vashti deposed (Esth. 1:1-22). In the third 
year of King Ahasuerus he made a feast to all the 
nobles and princes of his dominion and showed to 
them all of his riches and the honor of his majesty. 
This feast lasted 180 days, at the expiration of 
which he gave another to the common people. On 
the seventh day of this feast, Ahasuerus commanded 
his servants to bring his wife, Vashti, before him in 
order that he might show to the people her beauty. 
But Vashti refused to come, which so enraged the king 
that he made a decree that she should no more 
appear before him and that her estate should be 
given to another better than she. 

2. Esther exalted (Esth. 2:1-20). But, when the 
wrath of Ahasuerus was appeased, his heart began 
to turn again to his deposed queen. So his servants 
suggested that officers be appointed to gather to- 
gether the virgins of his realm that he might select 
one to be queen in Vashti's place. This pleased the 
king, and his servants set about carrying out his 
orders. Now, there was in the palace of Shushan a 
Jew, Mordecai by name, who had brought up a very 
beautiful niece by the name of Esther. This Jew, 
when he heard of the king's commands, brought 
Esther to the officers and placed her in the care of 
Hegai, the king's keeper of women, instructing her, 
at the same time, that she should not reveal her 
nationalit}^ When the twelve months, which had 
been appointed for the purification of the women, 
were ended, Esther appeared before the king, who 
was so impressed with her beauty that he selected 
her as his queen, in the place of Vashti, and made 

a feast in her honor. 

326 



THE PERSIAN PERIOD 



3. Mordecai saves the life of Ahasuerus (Esth. 2: 
21-23). In those days Mordecai discovered a plot 
against the life of the king in which his chamber- 
lains, Bigthan and Teresh, sought to slay him. The 
Jew told this plot to Esther, who, in turn, revealed 
it to the king. An investigation being made, the 
guilt of these men was proved and they were both 
hanged on a tree. 

4. Haman's plot against the Jews (Esth. 3:1-15). 
After this the king promoted Haman the Agagite 
over all the princes that were with him, and com- 
manded that all of his servants should bow before 
him. Mordecai refused to do this. When Mordecai's 
refusal was told Haman, he was full of wrath and 
laid a plot not only to destroy him, but also all the 
Jews throughout the entire kingdom. So, in the 
first month of the twelfth year of Ahasuerus, Haman 
went to the king and complained that the Jews were 
different from all the other people and did not keep 
the king's laws, suggesting at the same time that he 
order their destruction, and offering for the same the 
sum of ten thousand talents of silver to be paid into 
the king's treasury. When the king heard this, he 
gave Haman his signet-ring, and he called together 
the king's scribes to write the edict, after which he 
sealed it with the king's seal and sent it by posts 
throughout all the provinces. 

5. The intervention of Esther (Esth. 4:1-5:14). 
When the Jews were told what Haman had done, 
there was great mourning among them and many 
of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. Esther then sent 
to Mordecai for full information of the plot, and he 
replied by telling her messenger all that Haman had 

327 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



done and by sending her a copy of the decree. Then 
Esther set herself to the task of delivering her 
people. For three days she and the Jews in Shushan* 
fasted, at the end of which time she, dressed in her 
royal apparel, went in to the king, and, when she 
had found favor in his eyes, she invited him and 
Haman to a banquet which she would prepare for 
them that day. At this banquet, Ahasuerus asked 
Esther to state her request, promising her that he 
would grant it if it required one-half of his kingdom. 
To this the queen replied that, if the king and 
Haman would come to the banquet on the morrow, 
she would do as he had said. Haman, upon his 
return from the feast, called his friends and family 
together and related to them how he had been ad- 
vanced above the other servants of the king, and 
how Esther had invited him alone with the king to 
sit at her feast. Yet he declared that all this availed 
him nothing so long as Mordecai sat at the king's 
gate. His friends then advised him to construct a 
gallows and to request the king that the Jew be 
hanged thereon. 

6. The exaltation of Mordecai (Esth. 6:1-14). 
That night the king was troubled so that he could 
not sleep, and he called for the official records to be 
brought and read before him. In these it was found 
that Mordecai had saved the king's life from the 
plot of Bigthan and Teresh. When Ahasuerus dis- 
covered this and also that Mordecai had not been 
rewarded, he inquired: "Who is in the court?" His 
servants replied : "Haman standeth in the court." He 



One of the capitals oi ancient Persia. 
32S 



THE PERSIAN PERIOD 



then commanded that he be brought in. This being 
done, the king said to Haman : "What shall be done 
unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?" 
Haman was greatly pleased with this question, think- 
ing that Ahasuerus had it in mind to honor him, and 
so replied that he should be clothed in royal apparel, 
should be set upon the king's horse, should be 
crowned with the king's crown, and that the horse 
should be led through the street by one of the most 
noble princes. Then the king commanded that this 
be done to Mordecai and that Haman bring him 
through the street. After this was done, Haman 
returned to his home greatly humiliated. 

7. The execution of Haman (Esth. 7:1-10). At 
the banquet which Esther had prepared for Ahasuerus 
and Haman, the king requested Esther to state her 
petition. The queen answered : "If I have found 
favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, 
let my life be given me at my petition, and my 
people at my request." The king inquired who had 
sought the destruction of herself and people, and 
when Esther had replied that it was Haman, Ahas- 
uerus commanded that he be taken and hanged on 
the same gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai. 

8. The destruction of the Jews' enemies (Esth. 8: 
1-9:32). After the death of Haman, Mordecai was 
exalted in his place, and Esther besought the king 
to annul the edict that he had permitted to be 
issued. This the king did, and also issued another 
decree in which he gave the Jews the right to stand 
for their lives and to destroy all who came against 
them. Then the Jews smote all their enemies with 
the sword, after which they rested on the fourteenth 

329 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



day of the month Adar. This day was ever after- 
wards kept as the date of the feast of Purim. 

9. Mordecai made prime minister (Esth. 10:1-3). 
After this Mordecai was made prime minister and 
his fame spread throughout the whole realm of 
Persia. 

QUESTIONS 

To what race did the Medes and Persians belong? Give the 
names of the historians to whom we are indebted for our 
knowledge of ancient Persia. In what direction from Assyria 
and Babylonia did the country of the ancient Medes and Persians 
lie? What is the name of Persia in the native tongue? Bound,, 
chronologically, the period of Persian supremacy. Into what two 
divisions does Medo-Persian history fall? Give in their order 
the names of the Median kings. What kings overthrew Nineveh? 
When did Cyrus the Great reign? What did he permit the Jews 
to do? Give the name of his son and successor. Under whose 
reign did Ezra and Nehemiah lead the Jews back to Palestine? 
What king is identified with Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther? 
Who was the last king of Persia? By whom was he defeated? 
Where? When? Describe the character of the Persians. Tell 
about their government. Their architecture. Give the name 
that is applied to the collection of their sacred books. Who com- 
piled this collection, and about when? Describe the Persian 
religion. Was Cyrus a monotheist? Was he a native Persian? 
When was monotheism introduced as the Persian state religion? 
Why was Vashti deposed ? Who was exalted in her place ? Who 
was Mordecai? What two men conspired against the life of 
Ahasuerus? Who was Haman? What plot did he lay? What 
did Esther do? Tell about the exaltation of Mordecai. What 
became of Haman? What feast commemorates the deliverance 
of the Jews? What office did Mordecai afterwards fill? 



330 



STUDY XXVIII. THE GRECIAN PERIOD 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The cultural transition. With the supremacy 
of Greece there came a transition in cuhure, and 
Greek civiHzation rapidly supplanted that of the 
Orient. 

2. Preparation for Christ. This cultural transition 
was one of the steps in the world's preparation for 
the coming of Christ. The Greek language rapidly 
became the language of commerce and letters and 
thus prepared the way for the wide dissemination of 
gospel truth. 

3. The condition of the Jews. After the death of 
Alexander, Judea became the bone of contention be- 
tween the kings of Syria and Egypt, and upon its 
soil many of the chief battles of these contending 
powers were fought. Yet the Jews were held in high 
repute by both powers, and their first kings, Seleucus 
Nicator and Ptolemy Soter, invited them to their 
respective realms, where they were generally treated 
with the greatest kindness and were given the rights 
of citizenship. Those Jews who took advantage of 
these offers and settled in Syria and Egypt were 
known as Hellenists from having come under Hel- 
lenic influences and adopting the Hellenic tongue. 
For about the first eighty years of the period of 
Greek supremacy, Judea was under the dominion of 
the Ptolemies of Egypt, but it afterwards, through 

331 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



the conquest of Antiochus the Great, passed under the 
scepter of the Seleucidse. The Jews who remained in 
the home land, although nominally subject either to 
Egypt or Syria, were governed by their own laws 
through their high priest and national council. Yet 
the peace of the country was greatly broken by the 
almost constant warfare of the two rival kingdoms 
mentioned and also by the internal contentions over 
the claims of rival candidates for the office of the 
high-priesthood. These disturbances had a bad 
effect upon the people, and they drifted into wicked- 
ness and a disregard for religious worship. 

4. The period of Greek supremacy. This period 
lay between the decisive victory of Alexander in 
331 B. C. and the overthrow of the Ptolemies by 
Rome in B. C. 30, although, so far as Judea was 
concerned, it ended with the overthrow of Antiochus 
by Judas Maccabeus about 165 B. C. 

I. GRECIAN HISTORY 

1. The early history of Greece. The first inhab- 
itants of Greece were the Pelasgi, from whom the 
country was called Pelasgia. They were followed 
by the Hellenes, who subdued them and gave their 
name, Hellas, to the peninsula. Following this con- 
quest, the people were divided into four tribes — the 
Dorians, Achseans, Cohans and lonians. These early 
times are known as the Heroic Age, of whose heroes 
and heroines later poets and sculptors loved to cele- 
brate the character. The celebrated legend of the 
siege of Troy belongs to this period. 

2. The rise of Sparta and Athens. The two most 
important states of ancient Greece were those of 

332 




333 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Sparta and Athens. At first, Sparta was a double 
monarchy, ruled by two kings and a senate of thirty 
members. About 850 B. C. arose Lycurgus, the 
celebrated lawgiver, who is noted for his stringent 
code of laws. By these laws the power of the kings 
was reduced while that of the people was increased, 
but his main purpose seems to have been the making 
of every Spartan a soldier. With him the state did 
not exist for the individual, but the individual for 
the state. 

The history of Athens begins in the Heroic Age 
and, as it is followed, presents a greater variety of 
character and incident than does that of Sparta. At 
first Athens was ruled by kings, then by archons, and 
lastly by a council, or board, of nine who were 
chosen from among the nobles. About 620 B. C, 
Draco brought out his code of laws, but they were 
marked with so much cruelty, every crime being 
punishable with death, that Athens was thrown into 
a state of anarchy from which she was rescued by 
Solon (594 B. C). Though Solon's laws were much 
more moderate, they were unsatisfactory to many 
of his contemporaries, and the result was a struggle 
for power in which Pisistratus, Solon's opponent, was 
victorious. This dictator ruled mildly and succeeded 
in transmitting his power to his sons, but the people 
again becoming dissatisfied, banished his family (510 
B. C), and a noble named Clisthenes assumed the 
power. Under Clisthenes the people enjoyed a pure 
democracy, and Athens soon rose to be the leading 
state of central Greece. 

3. The Persian War. When Cyrus the Great con- 
quered Lydia, he also came into possession of her 

334 



THE GRECIAN PERIOD 



dependencies and, among them, of a number of 
Greek cities in Asia Minor. These cities did not 
readily submit to Persian rule and, in 500 B. C, 
revolted, being assisted by their kinsfolk, the Athe- 
nians. This drew down upon both the wrath of 
Darius Hystaspes, with the result that, after he had 
quelled the revolt in Asia Minor, he turned his atten- 
tion to Athens. At first, because of several misfor- 
tunes, he was forced to retire, but later, with a larger 
army, he again invaded Greece. At the outset his 
forces were successful and the Cyclades Islands, with 
Eretria, on the island of Euboea, fell before them. 
But as the Persians advanced on Athens they were 
met by the Greeks under Miltiades and severely 
defeated at Marathon in September, 490 B. C. Not 
being able to continue 'hostilities, Darius withdrew, 
and before it was possible for him again to renew 
the conflict he was cut off by the hand of death 
(485 B. C.). His son, Xerxes, then took the throne 
and led a large army into Greece, and met and de- 
feated a small Spartan force, under Leonidas, at 
Thermopylae. But, in the sea-fight of¥ Salamis, he 
met a crushing overthrow and was forced to retire. 
He left behind him, however, an army under the 
command of Mardonis, but his army, too, was soon 
afterwards defeated at Platsea, and this, with the 
crushing of the remnant of his fleet in a naval en- 
gagement at Mycale, Asia Minor, forever put at rest 
the hopes that the Persian monarchs had of conquer- 
ing the Greek peoples. 

4. The Peloponnesian War. During the half- 
century which followed the battle of Salamis, Athens 
reached the zenith of her glory and power. This 

22 385 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



high state of excellence was largely due to the exer- 
tions of Pericles, one of the greatest statesmen that 
ever lived. For the purpose of protection, the Athe- 
nians formed a league with other maritime cities on 
the ^gean. On the other hand, Sparta exercised a 
strong influence over the inland states. The friction 
that was caused brought on what is known in history 
as the Peloponnesian War, a conflict which, begin- 
ning in 431 B. C.,. lasted twenty-seven years and 
finally ended with the surrender of Athens. After 
this, Athens declined in power, and Sparta for a time 
assumed the ascendency, only to be defeated by the 
rising power of Thebes. But the glory of Thebes was 
also of short duration, for she, too, soon fell before the 
combined forces of the Spartans and Athenians. 
These struggles exhausted Greece and left her an 
easy prey to Philip of Macedon. 

5. Macedonian supremacy. Although the Mace- 
donians were closely allied to the Greeks in race, they 
had remained in obscurity while their southern kins- 
men were coming to the notice of the world. But, 
in the middle of the fourth century B. C., the bold 
and energetic chief, Philip, assumed the government 
of Macedon and set himself to the task of making it 
the leading power of Europe. At first he craftily 
mixed himself in Greek politics and was chosen a 
member of the great religious council known as the 
Amphictyonic Council. But, not content with this 
hidden policy, he came out in the open and, in 
358 B. C., began to assert his power, with the result 
that in twenty years he had made himself master of 
Greece by the defeat of the combined forces of the 
Athenians and Thebans at Cheronea (338 B. C.). 

336 



THE GRECIAN PERIOD 



After this he declared his purpose of uniting all 
Hellas against Persia, but, before he had time to 
carry out his plans, he was assassinated by one of his 
own subjects (336 B. C.)- Two things contributed 
to Philip's success: his invincible military organi- 
zation and his political tact. Philip was succeeded 
by his son, Alexander the Great, who was twenty 
years of age. 

6. The career of Alexander the Great. No sooner 
did Alexander ascend the throne than he began to 
carry out his father's cherished plans of overthrowing 
Persia. In 334 B. C. he crossed the Hellespont with 
a small army of thirty-five thousand men and de- 
feated a superior Persian force at Granlcus, in Asia 
Minor. His next engagement was at Issus, near the 
borders of Cilicia and Syria, where he met Darius 
Codomannus and was also victorious (333 B. C.). 
During the next twenty months he reduced Tyre, 
Gaza and Egypt, and in 331 B. C. plunged into the 
heart of Persia, where he met Darius at Arbela in 
Assyria. So decisive was this victory for Alexander 
that the three capitals of the Persian Empire — Per- 
sepolis, Susa and Babylon — surrendered almost with- 
out resistance. After this he led his forces into India 
as far as the river Hyphasis, conquering by the way, 
when his soldiers refused to go farther, and he 
returned to Persepolis, where he died at the age of 
thirty- three (B. C. 323). 

7. Alexander's successors. Upon Alexander's 
death, his mighty empire fell to pieces, and in 301 
B. C. was divided among his four generals, as fol- 
lows : Seleucus took Syria and the East ; Ptolemy 
took Egypt; Lysimachus took Thrace, and Cassander 

337 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



took Macedon. Of these kingdoms, those of Seleucus 
and Ptolemy were the most important, and almost 
unceasing warfare was carried on between them until 
they finally came under the power of Rome. The 
kings who reigned upon the throne of Egypt at 
Alexandria and upon the throne of Syria at Antioch 
were: 

EGYPT. SYRIA. 



Ptolemy Soter (320-285 B. C). 

Ptolemy Philadelphus (285- 
247). 

Ptolemy Euergetes I. (247-222). 

Ptolemy Philopater (222-205). 

Ptolemy Epiphanes (205-181). 

Ptolemy Philometer (181-146). 

Ptolemy Euergetes II. (170-116, 
jointly with Pt. Philometer 
till B. C 146). 

Ptolemy Lathrus (116-107). 

Ptolemy Alexander and Cleo- 
patra (107-80). 

Ptolemy Auletes (80-51, exiled 
for three years). 

Ptolemy Dionysius and Cleo- 
patra (51-30). 



Seleucus Nicator (312-280 B. 

C). 
Antiochus Soter (280-261). 
Antiochus Theos (261-246). 
Seleucus Callinicus (246-226). 
Seleucus Ceraunus (226-223). 
Antiochus the Great (223-187). 
Seleucus Philopater (187-175). 
Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164). 
Antiochus Eupator (164-162). 
Demetrius Soter (162-150). 
Alexander Balas (150-145). 
Demetrius Nicator (145-138). 
Antiochus Sidetes (138-128). 
Demetrius Nicator (128-125, 

second reign). 
Seleucus V. (murdered at once). 
Antiochus Grypus (125-113). 
Antiochus Cyzicenus (113-95). 
Antiochus Eusebes (95-83). 
Tigranes (83-69). 
Antiochus Asiaticus (69-65). 

II. GRECIAN CULTURE 

1. The character of the Grecian people. The 

Greeks were of an aesthetic disposition and were 
intensely patriotic and liberty-loving. 

2. Grecian literature. Aside from the Hebrew 
Scriptures, the literature of anc^'ent Greece was the 

338 



THE GRECIAN PERIOD 



best of antiquity. It was far in advance of that of the 
Egyptians, Babylonians, Hindoos and Persians in its 
high tone of thought and sentiment. In Greek 
literature, poetry preceded prose. The oldest poems 
are the Iliad and Odyssey, written by Homer, and 
which are given a date as early as 880 B. C. Follow- 
ing Homer came Hesiod, who wrote two famous 
books, *'Theogany" and "Works and Days." Among 
the lyric poetry we have the works of Sappho, 
Alcaeus, Anacreon and Pindar. In the age of Pericles 
the Greek drama was invented, and tragedy attained 
its highest development at the hands of ^schylus, 
Sophocles and Euripides. The greatest master of 
comedy was Aristophanes. The historians were 
Herodotus, the "Father of History," born in 484 B. 
C. ; Thucydides, Xenophon, Polybius, Diodorus and 
Plutarch. Of orators there were Pericles, ^schines 
and Demosthenes, while among the philosophers may 
be mentioned Thales, Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato and 
Aristotle. 

3. Grecian art. The most important works of 
Grecian architecture were their temples. These were 
built with columns of three graceful forms or orders, 
known as the Doric, the Ionic and the Corinthian. 
Most of these temples were built during the forty 
or fifty years succeeding the defeat of the Persians 
at Salamis. The most celebrated temple, following 
the Ionic order of architecture, was that of Diana 
at Ephesus, which was 425 feet long by 220 feet 
wide. The Corinthian order of architecture was 
most followed In the construction of those temples 
which were dedicated to Venus, Flora and the 
Nymphs, while the most famous of the Doric temples 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



was the Parthenon, "House of the Virgin/' dedicated 
to Athena, at Athens. 

4. The Grecian religion. The ancient Greeks 
were polytheists and worshiped a number of gods 
and goddesses, yet their religious system was far in 
advance of that of the Egyptians and Babylonians. 
Their chief gods and goddesses were: Zeus, chief 
and father of the gods; Poseidon, deity of the sea; 
Apollo, god of song and music; Artemis, goddess of 
flocks and the chase; Hephaistos, god of terrestrial 
fire; Hermes, the messenger of the gods; Ares, god 
of war; Hera, the wife of Zeus; Athena, goddess of 
wisdom and war; Hestia, goddess of the hearth; 
Demeter, goddess of agriculture, and Aphrodite, god- 
dess of love. Besides these, there were a number of 
lesser deities. 

5. Grecian festivals. There were four great 
national festivals: the Olympic, Pythian, Isthmian 
and Nemean. The first was observed every four 
years in the plain of Olympia in honor of the god 
Zeus. The Pythian was observed in the third year 
of each Olympiad, near Delphi, in honor of Apollo. 
The Isthmian was kept in honor of Neptune, or 
Poseidon, on the isthmus of Corinth. And the 
Nemean was celebrated at the town of Nemea in the 
Peloponnesus. 

6. The Alexandrian library. When the Ptolemies 
began to rule Egypt, they founded their capital at 
Alexandria, which soon became a great and flourish- 
ing city and the center of culture and art. Here was 
found the celebrated Alexandrian library of five 
hundred thousand volumes. Here, also, the Hebrew 
Old Testament was translated into the Greek by a 

340 



THE GRECIAN PERIOD 



company of learned Alexandrian Jews under the 
patronage of Ptolemy Philadelphus. This version 
was begun in 285 B. C. and is known as the Septua- 
gint. 

QUESTIONS 

What can you say of the cultural transition accompanying 
the supremacy of Greece? How was this a preparation for Christ? 
Give the condition of the Jews during the Greek period. Locate 
the period of Greek supremacy. What were the first inhabitants 
of Greece called? Who were their successors? Into what four 
tribes were the ancient inhabitants divided? What is the early 
age of Grecian history called? What celebrated legend belongs 
to this period? Name the two most important of the ancient 
Grecian states. Who was Lycurgus? Tell about his laws. Who 
was Draco? Tell about his laws. Who was Solon? Who 
superseded him? Who succeeded Pisistratus? How did the 
Persians come into possession of Grecian territory? Who was 
the first Persian king to invade Grecian territory? Where and by 
whom was he defeated? Give the date of the battle of Marathon. 
Who was the second Persian king to invade Greece? Whom did 
he meet at Thermopylae? Where was he defeated? Give the 
cause of the Peloponnesian War. When did it begin ? How long 
did it last? Who was victorious? What power afterwards de- 
feated Sparta? What happened to Thebes? What prominent 
Macedonian arose about this time? What was Philip's ambition? 
How did he make himself master of Greece? What two things 
contributed to his success? Who succeeded him? How old was 
Alexander at this time? Give the names of the first two battles 
in which he defeated the Persians. What countries did he then 
reduce? Where and when was the decisive battle fought? After 
he had conquered Persia, where did Alexander lead his armies? 
Where did he die? Into how many divisions was Alexander's 
dominion divided after his death? What were the rulers of 
Egypt called? What were the rulers of Syria called? Give the 
character of the Greek peoples. Who was the first poet of 
Greece? Give the titles of his two works. Who is called the 
"Father of History"? What were the most important works of 
Grecian architecture? Give the three orders of Grecian archi- 

341 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



lecture. Were the Greeks monotheists or polytheists? Give the 
character of their religion compared with that of Egypt and 
Babylonia. Name some of their gods. Name the four Greek 
festivals. Where was the greatest library of antiquity founded? 
How many volumes did it contain? Tell about the translation 
of the Hebrew Scriptures into the Greek. 



342 



STUDY XXIX. THE MACCABEAN PERIOD 

(Following Josephus) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The Maccabees. The Maccabees were a family 
of patriots and religious reformers who maintained 
Jewish independence between the years 167 and 63 
B. C. The original term was Maccabi, which was 
probably derived from the Hebrew makkabah, "a 
hammer." The proper name of the family, however, 
was Asmonceans, or HasmoncBans. 

2. The cause of the Maccabean revolt. The 
strength of the Jews was greatly weakened by a 
somewhat protracted contention between rival candi- 
dates for the office of the high-priesthood, and Anti- 
ochus Epiphanes, king of Syria, taking advantage of 
this condition, led an expedition against Jerusalem 
and took possession of it. He pillaged the city, 
burned the best buildings, desecrated and despoiled 
the Temple, slew some of the inhabitants and carried 
others away captive. He also tried to extirpate 
Jewish worship and to substitute the religion of the 
Greeks in its place". These acts of violence and 
sacrilege greatly incensed that part of the population 
who were devoutly attached to the ancient worship, 
and led to the revolt of the Jews against the tyranny 
of the Selucidaean kings. Antiochus was in posses- 
sion of the city of Jerusalem from 170 to 164 B. C. 

343 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



I. MATTATHIAS 
(168-166 B. C.) 

1. The relations of Mattathias. Mattathias was a 
priest of the order of Joarib, who dwelt in the town 
of Modin, eighteen miles northwest of the city of 
Jerusalem, of which he was a citizen. He was the 
father of five sons — ^John, Simon, Judas, Eleazar and 
Jonathan. 

2. Mattathias refuses to obey the command of 
Antiochus. Antiochus sent officers to Modin for the 
purpose of erecting an altar to Jupiter Olympus and 
to compel the Jews to ofTer sacrifices on the same. 
This the aged Mattathias, with his family, refused to 
do, and also slew an apostate Jew who did sacrifice, 
and Apelles, Antiochus' general, with a number of 
his soldiers. He then overthrew the idol altar, and, 
crying out, "If any one be zealous for the laws of his 
country, and for the worship of God, let him follow 
me," fled to the mountains. 

3. The Syrians attack the Jews. Many of the 
Jews, with their families, followed Mattathias, and 
when this was told the king's generals, they took 
all the forces that they had at Jerusalem and followed 
them. Coming upon them, the generals tried to dis- 
suade them from their rebellious course, but when 
they discovered that they could not, they attacked 
them upon their sabbath and slew about one thou- 
sand men, besides women and children, because they 
would not defend themselves upon that day. Follow- 
ing this, Mattathias gathered about him a great army, 
overthrew the idol altars, slew those Jews who 
broke the laws, and reinstated the ordinance of 

344 



THE MACCABEAN PERIOD 



circumcision that had been permitted to relapse 
under the persecution of the Syrians. He also 
changed the policy of the Jews so that afterwards 
they defended themselves even upon their sabbaths. 
4. The death of Mattathias. At the expiration of 
one year, Mattathias was taken with a distemper, 
and, admonishing his sons to live together harmo- 
niously, to observe the ancient customs and to 
recover their ancient government, he died and was 
buried, amid the lamentations of his people, at 
Modin 

II. JUDAS MACCABEUS 

(166-161 B. C.) 

1, Judas succeeds his father. Judas, by appoint- 
ment of Mattathias, succeeded him as the general 
of the Jewish army and carried on the work of reform 
with the spirit of his father. He cast his enemies 
out of the country, put to death those Jews who 
had broken the ancient law, and purified the land 
of all the pollutions that were in it. 

2. The victories of Judas. When Apollonius, com- 
mander of the Samaritan forces, learned what Judas 
had done, he made haste to go against him. In the 
battle that ensued, Apollonius was defeated and 
slain. After this, Seron, general of the army of 
Coele-syria, led an expedition against Judas and met 
him at Beth-horon, a village in Judea. But he, too, 
was defeated and eight hundred of his army were 
slain. The news of this defeat, coming to the ears 
of Antiochus, made him very angry, and he gathered 
together all his army, with many mercenaries, and 
prepared to invade Judea. But, when the king had 

315 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



mustered his soldiers, he ascertained that there were 
not enough funds in his treasury to finance the cam- 
paign, so he resolved first to go into Persia to collect 
the taxes of that country, while the command of his 
army was given to Lysias, a very able and accom- 
plished general. Lysias divided his forces into three 
divisions under Ptolemy, Nicanor and Gorgias, but 
in the campaign which ensued he was severely de- 
feated, as he was also in a second campaign which 
was carried on the following year. 

3. Judas purges the Temple and restores the 
ancient worship. Judas, following these victories, 
assembled the people together and stated his purpose 
to go up to Jerusalem and purify the Temple and 
restore the ancient worship. When this work was 
accomplished and the Temple worship was once 
again set in order, the people celebrated the event 
with a festival which lasted eight days. This festival 
was ever afterwards known as the Feast of Dedication. 

4. Judas subdues the surrounding nations. The 
nations surrounding the Jews became very uneasy at 
the revival of their power under Judas, and, forming 
an alliance, attacked the people and destroyed many 
of them. This moved Judas to action, and, at the 
head of his army, he successively met and defeated 
the Idumeans, the sons of Bean and the Ammonites, 
and then returned into Judea. But no sooner was 
he off the field than the allies attacked the Jews in 
Gilead, while the inhabitants of Ptolemais, Tyre and 
Sidon also formed an alliance against him. So, divi- 
ding his army, Judas sent part of it north under his 
brother Simon to meet the Tyrians and their allies, 
while he with the remainder went to the defense of 

346 



THE MACCABEAN PERIOD 



the Jews in Gilead. In both of these campaigns the 
Jews were victorious. 

5. The death of Antiochus Epiphanes. When 
Antiochus, who was in Persia, heard of the repeated 
defeats of his armies, and having also failed of 
obtaining the finances he sought, he fell into a griev- 
ous distemper from which he died, bitterly repenting 
the miseries which he had brought upon the Jewish 
nation. 

6. Antiochus Eupator attacks the Jews. Upon 
the death of Antiochus Epiphanes, Antiochus Eupator 
ascended the Syrian throne. He was but a youth, 
and, through the instigation of apostate Jews from 
Jerusalem, he collected an army of 120,000 men 
and, marching into Idumea, besieged the Jews in 
the city of Bethsura. When Judas, who was be- 
sieging the citadel in Jerusalem, learned of the 
attack on Bethsura, he went to its rescue, but, before 
the formidable army of Eupator, he was forced to 
retire, and, re-entering Jerusalem, prepared for a 
siege. Eupator, with part of his army, followed him, 
but after a long time was forced to raise the siege 
and to make peace with the Jews because of the 
threatened attack of Philip, who was coming against 
him from Persia. Returning to Antioch, Eupator was 
finally killed by his own uncle, Demetrius, who took 
the throne. 

7. The persecution of the Jews under Demetrius. 
Demetrius made peace with Judas, but appointed one 
of his generals, Nicanor, governor of Judea. Now, 
Nicanor was of a humane disposition and acted very 
leniently toward the Jews, especially toward Judas, 
which provoked the jealousy of the apostate Alcimus, 

347 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



who went to Demetrius with the complaint that 
Nicanor had ordained Judas to be the king's suc- 
cessor. This greatly enraged Demetrius, and he 
wrote to Nicanor and demanded that he send the 
Maccabee a prisoner to Antioch. But Judas dis- 
covered the purpose of the governor and fled. A 
battle was soon afterwards fought at Beth-horon, 
in which Nicanor was defeated and slain, Judas 
sending his head and right hand as trophies back to 
Jerusalem. 

8. The death of Judas Maccabeus. But the army 
of Demetrius was still very strong, and Judas retired 
to Laish with three thousand followers. Here he 
was attacked with a superior force and was slain. 
He was buried with great honor at Modin. 

III. JONATHAN MACCABEUS 

(161-143 B. C.) 

1. Jonathan succeeds Judas. For sometime after 
the death of Judas the Jews were without a leader, 
but finally their oppression became so great that they 
came to Jonathan and urged him to take command 
of their army. Jonathan proved to be a worthy 
successor of his brother Judas. 

2. The invasions of Bacchides. When Bacchides, 
the Syrian general, learned that Jonathan had taken 
command of the Jewish army, he became alarmed 
and laid a plot to kill him. But Jonathan, hearing 
of this, fled into the wilderness. Here Bacchides at- 
tacked him on the sabbath, presuming that he would 
not fight on that day. In this battle the Syrians lost 
two thousand men, but Jonathan escaped by swim- 

348 



THE MACCABEAN PERIOD 



ming the Jordan. Following this, Bacchides secured 
all Judea with garrisons and returned to Antioch. 
The land then had rest for two years, when the 
apostate Jews again stirred up the anger of Deme- 
trius with their stories, and Bacchides was dispatched 
a second time to take Jonathan prisoner. Jonathan 
retired to the city of Bethagla, in the wilderness, 
which he strongly fortified. Here he was besieged 
by Bacchides, but, leaving part of his army under 
Simon to guard the defenses, he made a night sally 
and attacked the Syrians in the rear. When the 
Syrian general saw that he was attacked from be- 
hind, he was greatly troubled, and determined to 
raise the siege in as decent a manner as possible. 
This came to the ears of Jonathan, and he sent 
ambassadors to Bacchides offering to make a league 
with him. This offer was accepted, and the Syrians 
withdrew. 

3. Jonathan made governor by Demetrius. In the 
160th year of the Selucidse, Alexander, son of Anti- 
ochus Epiphanes, revolted against Demetrius, who 
was out of favor with his people because of his inso- 
lent and indolent habits. As a stroke of policy, 
Demetrius appointed Jonathan governor of Judea and 
authorized him to raise an army. This Jonathan did, 
and freed the Jewish captives and restored the city 
to its former splendor. 

4. Jonathan accepts the offer of Alexander Balas. 
But no sooner did Alexander discover what Deme- 
trius had done than he wrote to Jonathan and offered 
him the high-priesthood if he would assist him. This 
offer Jonathan accepted and put on the purple robe 
which Alexander sent him. In the struggle which 

349 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



ensued, Demetrius was slain, after which Alexander 
honored Jonathan in a most extraordinary manner 
and "set him down as the principal of his friends." 

5. The death of Jonathan. Following this, Jona- 
than received additional honors from Demetrius, the 
successor of Alexander, and also from Trypho, 
Demetrius' successor, but was finally taken captive 
and slain by the treachery of the latter. 

IV. SIMON MACCABEUS 

(143-135 B. C.) 

1. Simon becomes leader of his people. Jonathan 
was kept a prisoner sometime before his life was 
taken, and when the Jews heard of it, they were 
greatly cast down, but Simon, the brother of Jona- 
than, inspired them with words of encouragement 
and was received as the general of their army. 

2. Trypho invades Judea. Simon set at once to 
strengthen the fortifications of Jerusalem. Hardly 
was this done, when Trypho left Ptolemais and 
entered the land, bringing Jonathan with him. Simon 
went out to meet him, and Trypho proposed that if 
he would send him one hundred talents of silver and 
two of Jonathan's sons as hostages, he would permit 
Jonathan to go free. Fully knowing the treachery 
of Trypho, the Jews consented to this, but no sooner 
were the sons of Jonathan and the money in his 
possession than he broke his word and made ready 
to attack Jerusalem. This attack was prevented by a 
snowstorm, and Trypho returned into Coelesyria, 
afterwards going into the land of Gilead, where he 
took Jonathan's life. 

350 



THE MACCABEAN PERIOD 



3. Simon made high priest. Following the death 
of Jonathan, Simon was made high priest in his 
place. He took the cities of Gazara, Joppa and 
Jamnia and razed to the ground the citadel of Jeru- 
salem, which had been used as a rendezvous by the 
Jews' enemies. Under him the people were pros- 
perous and happy. 

4. Simon makes an alliance with Antiochus Pius. 
Antiochus Pius, brother of Demetrius, came against 
Trypho and, after a number of battles, drove him out 
of upper Syria. Antiochus then sent ambassadors to 
Simon, proposing an alliance. This proposal Simon 
readily accepted and sent supplies to him as he was 
besieging Dora in Phoenicia. During this siege 
Trypho was taken prisoner and put to death. 

5. The injustice and defeat of Antiochus. But 
Antiochus very soon forgot the kind assistance of 
Simon and sent an army to invade Judea and seize 
the Maccabee. When Simon learned that Antiochus 
had broken the league, he gathered his forces to- 
gether and stationed them in ambush in the valleys, 
and so defeated his enemies and turned them back. 
During the last days of his life he lived in peace and 
also made a league with the Romans. He was 
treacherously murdered by his son-in-law, Ptolemy. 

V. JOHN HYRCANUS 

(135-105 B. C.) 

1. John Hyrcanus ejects Ptolemy from the coun- 
try. The first act of John Hyrcanus, after he had 
received the high-priesthood, was to drive Ptolemy, 
his brother-in-law and the slayer of his father, from 

23 351 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



the country. Ptolemy took refuge with Zeno, the 
tyrant of the city of Philadelphia. 

2. The invasion of Antiochus Pius. Antiochus, 
being very uneasy at the miseries that Simon had 
brought upon him, invaded Judea in the first year of 
Hyrcanus and shut the Maccabee up in the city of 
Jerusalem. However, when the Feast of Tabernacles 
was at hand, he agreed to a truce of seven days and 
also sent in, as sacrifices, bulls with gilded horns and 
all sorts of sweet spices, besides cups of gold and 
silver. Following this, the two generals entered 
into an engagement, and Antiochus broke up the 
siege and departed. 

3. Hyrcanus subdues the surrounding nations. 
When Hyrcanus learned of the death of Antiochus, 
who was slain in a battle with Arsaces, king of 
Parthia, he led an expedition against the cities of 
Syria and took Medaba, Samega and neighboring 
places; also Shechem and Gerizim of the Samaritans. 
In addition to these, he likewise took Dora and 
Marissa, cities of the Idumeans, and subdued them, 
but permitted the inhabitants to remain in their own 
country upon condition that they would adopt the 
ordinance of circumcision and observe the law of the 
Jews; conditions which they gladly accepted. 

4. Hyrcanus makes a league with Rome. Being 
desirous of renewing the league of friendship that 
his father had made with Rome, Hyrcanus sent an 
embassage to the senate of that country, requesting 
that the present peace be continued. The Romans 
considered the epistle and, assenting to the proposi- 
tion, gave the ambassadors money to pay their 
expenses home. 

352 



THE MACCABEAN PERIOD 



5. Hyrcanus takes Samaria. At this time Anti- 
ochus Grypus and Antiochus Cyzicenus, half-brothers, 
were contending for the throne of Syria, and Hyrca- 
nus, taking advantage of the weakened condition of 
that kingdom, attacked Samaria and besieged it. 
Although they received some assistance from Anti- 
ochus Cyzicenus, the Samaritans were forced, after 
a year's besiegement, to capitulate. 

6. Hyrcanus becomes a Sadducee. Notwithstand- 
ing the highly peaceful and prosperous conditions 
that prevailed, internal dissensions arose to mar the 
internal harmony of the Jewish state. Hyrcanus was 
at first a Pharisee, but he afterwards fell away from 
the Pharisee party and became a Sadducee. This 
caused no little envy and strife, and lost for Hyrcanus 
the popularity of that part of the Jewish people who 
not only held to the law of Moses, but also to those 
traditions that had come down from their forefathers. 
Hyrcanus, however, successfully put an end to this 
sedition and, unlike his predecessors, died a peaceful 
and natural death. 

VI. ARISTOBULUS I. 

(105-104 B. C.) 

Arlstobulus was the eldest son of John Hyrcanus 
and was a man of inordinate ambition and murderous 
disposition. He aspired to change the government 
into a kingdom, that he might wear the crown. He 
imprisoned all of his brothers, excepting Antigonus, 
who for a time he seemed very much attached to, but 
who afterwards he caused through a plot to be 
slain. He also shut up his mother in prison, where 

353 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



she was so poorly fed that she starved to death. He 
added certain provinces of Iturea to Judea and com- 
pelled the inhabitants to adopt the Jewish faith. He 
died in great agony, bitterly repenting his inhuman 
deeds. 

VII. ALEXANDER JANNEUS 

(104-78 B. C.) 

1. Alexander Janneus succeeds Aristobulus. After 
the death of Aristobulus, Salome (called Alexandra 
by the Greeks), his wife, released his brethren from 
prison and made Alexander Janneus king. Alexander 
began his reign by slaying one of his brethren who 
aspired to the throne. 

2. Alexander attacks Ptolemais. Having settled 
the affairs of his kingdom, Alexander led an expedi- 
tion against the city of Ptolemais and besieged it. As 
the two aspirants for the Syrian throne were at war 
with each other, the only hope of the inhabitants of 
that place was in Ptolemy Lathyrus, who had been 
driven from the government of Egypt by his mother, 
Cleopatra, and who was then in Cyprus. Upon receiv- 
ing the invitation of the inhabitants of Ptolemais to 
come to their assistance, Ptolemy took an army of 
thirty thousand, crossed the sea and, landing upon 
the Syrian shore, pitched near Ptolemais, at which 
Alexander raised the siege and retired. 

3. Alexander defeated by Ptolemy. Alexander 
then resorted to stratagem, and, while he openly pre- 
tended to desire a league of friendship with Ptolemy, 
he secretly invited Cleopatra to come against him. 
This becoming known to Ptolemy, he took part of his 
force and invaded Judea. After taking a number of 

354 



THE MACCABEAN PERIOD 



cities, he met Alexander at a place called Saphoth, 
near the Jordan, where he defeated him and routed 
his army with great slaughter. He then overran the 
whole country, putting the people to death with the 
most shocking barbarities. 

4. Cleopatra checks the course of Ptolemy. But 
when Cleopatra learned of the success of her son, 
she became fearful lest he should come and wrest 
the government of Egypt from her. So, gathering 
an army, she marched against him. But Ptolemy 
evaded her and invaded Egypt, yet he failed of his 
avowed purpose of taking that country and was 
subsequently driven out by an army that Cleopatra 
sent against him. 

5. The Jews despise Alexander. Alexander was 
very unpopular with his own people, and, at a festival 
which was celebrated in Jerusalem, they pelted him 
with citrons as he stood by the altar and reviled him 
with being the son of a captive, which so enraged 
him that he slew about six thousand of them. He 
then led expeditions against the Moabites, Gileadites 
and Arabians, and upon his return desired that his 
people should desist from their illwill toward him. 
But they hated him the more, and, when he asked 
them what he ought to do, they replied "that he 
ought to kill himself." 

6. Alexander's change of fortune. So despicable 
was Alexander in the eyes of his own countrymen 
that they invited Demetrius Eucerus to come to their 
assistance. In the battle which ensued, Alexander 
was defeated and fled to the mountains, but, as six 
thousand Jews who had been with Demetrius de- 
serted him and flocked to the standard of Alexander, 

355 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Demetrius fled from the country, whereupon these 
Jews turned upon Alexander, but were severely 
beaten, after which he returned to Jerusalem, where 
he barbarously had eight hundred of them crucified. 
His barbarity won for him the name of "The 
Thracian" among his people. 

7. The death of Alexander Janneus. Alexander 
at last died from a distemper brought on by hard 
drinking, after advising his queen, Alexandra, to turn 
over to the Pharisee party, which he had so bitterly 
opposed and which had brought so much dishonor 
upon him. 

VII. ALEXANDRA 

(78-69 B. C.) 

Alexandra did as her husband had counseled her 
and threw in her fortunes with the Pharisees. She 
made her eldest son, Hyrcanus, high priest, while 
Aristobulus, the younger, became the commander of 
her army. During her entire reign of nine years 
she showed remarkable ability in the afifairs of 
government, yet she left her own house in such a 
demoralized condition that after her death it entirely 
lost the authority. 

VIII. ARISTOBULUS IL 

(69-63 B. C.) 

1. Hyrcanus surrenders to Aristobulus. After the 
death of Alexandra, Aristobulus made war against 
his brother Hyrcanus, and defeated him in a battle 
fought at Jericho. Then Hyrcanus fled to the citadel 
in Jerusalem, from which he sent messengers to his 
brother offering to withdraw all claim to the throne 

356 



THE MACCABEAN PERIOD 



and to retire to private life. This offer was accepted. 

2. Hyrcanus makes an alliance with Aretas, king 
of Arabia. But, through the advice of Antipater the 
Idumean, Hyrcanus, supposing his Hfe in danger, 
fled to Aretas, king of Arabia, whom he secured to 
assist him in deposing Aristobulus upon the con- 
dition that he restore to the Arabians the cities 
which his father had taken. In the struggle that 
ensued, Hyrcanus was supported by the mass of the 
people, while the priests alone remained faithful to 
Aristobulus. Observing this, Aristobulus fled to 
Jerusalem, where he was besieged by the allied 
armies. 

3. Scaur us raises the siege and Judea becomes a 
Roman province. At this time Scaurus, the Roman 
general, was paging war in Syria, and both Hyrcanus 
and Aristobulus sent ambassadors to him asking for 
his assistance. Scaurus accepted the offer made by 
Aristobulus, because he was richer than Hyrcanus, 
and, raising the siege, ordered Aretas to return home 
or to be declared the enemy of Rome. After Scaurus 
had returned to Syria, Aristobulus attacked the com- 
bined forces of Hyrcanus and Aretas and defeated 
them with great slaughter. Later, Pompey took 
Jerusalem, made Judea a dependency of Syria, ap- 
pointed Hyrcanus ethnarch and high priest, and 
carried Aristobulus and his two sons and two 
daughters captives to Rome (63 B. C). 

QUESTIONS 

Who were the Maccabees ? Bound, chronologically, the period 
of Maccabean independence. Give the proper name of this 
family. How many of the Maccabees were there? Give the 
name of the only woman who ruled during this period. Give the 

357 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



cause of the Maccabean revolt. Who was the king of Syria at 
this time? Who was the first Maccabee? What position did he 
hold^ Where did he live? How many sons did he have? On 
what day did the Syrians make their first attack? Why did not 
the Jews defend themselves on that day? Who succeeded Mat- 
tathias? Tell about his victories. What did Judas do to the 
Temple. Tell about the death of Antiochus Epiphanes. Where 
was Judas Maccabeus slain? Who succeeded Judas Maccabeus? 
By whom was Jonathan slain ? Who succeeded Jonathan ? Who 
murdered Simon? Who was John Hyrcanus? What religious 
change did Hyrcanus make toward the close of his life? What 
was the character of Aristobulus? What relation was Alexander 
Janneus to Aristobulus? With what deposed Egyptian king did 
Alexander carry on warfare? Give the name of the mother of 
this king. How did the Jews fe'el toward Alexander Janneus? 
How did he die? What advice' did he give his queen just before 
his death ? How long did Alexandra reign ? What was her char- 
acter? Give the names of her two sons. What position did 
Hyrcanus fill? What position did Aristobulus fill? What did 
the sons do after her death ? With what king did Hyrcanus make 
a league? What Roman general raised the siege of Jerusalem? 
To what Roman was Jerusalem afterwards surrendered? What 
did Judea then become ? In what year did. this occur ? 



358 



STUDY XXX. THE ROMAN PERIOD 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The ancient races of Italy. The first races 
(of whom we have any account) to inhabit Italy 
were the Gauls, Etruscans, lapygians and Italians 
proper. The Gauls inhabited the northern part; the 
Etruscans and Italians, the central part, and the 
lapygians, the southern part. 

2. The tradition of the founding of Rome. Rome 
is said to have been founded by Romulus in the 
year 753 B. C. This character, with his twin-brother, 
Remus, are declared to have been the sons of the god 
Mars and the vestal Rhea. By the command of the 
tyrant Amulius, they were exposed in the Tiber, but 
were suckled by a she-wolf and were fed by a wood- 
pecker till found by a shepherd, Faustulus. When 
the brothers reached young manhood, they deter- 
mined to build a city, and, in the quarrel which 
ensued over its location, Remus was killed and 
Romulus founded Rome where it now stands. 

3. The Roman period. The period of Roman 
history falls between the year 753 B. C., the date 
of the establishment of the Roman kingdom, and 
476 A. D., the date of the overthrow of Rome by 
Odoacer the Herulian. It naturally falls into three 
divisions: That of the kingdom (753-510 B. C.), that 
of the republic (510-27 B. C.) and that of the empire 
(27 B. C.-476 A. D.). 

359 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



I. ROMAN HISTORY 

1. Rome as a kingdom. Tradition gives the names 
of seven kings who reigned during the first period of 
Roman history, but great obscurity shrouds the 
greater part of this epoch. 

2. The contest between the Patricians and the 
Plebeians. Roman citizenship was from the earliest 
times divided into two classes, the Patricians and 
the Plebeians. To the former belonged all magis- 
terial offices, all the higher degrees of the priesthood 
and the right of using a family name, while the 
latter, though free and personally independent, .were 
wholly destitute of political importance. During the 
reign of the fifth king of Rome, Servius Tullius, 
called "King of the Commons," the Plebeians were 
given a share in the government, but under the 
seventh king, Tarquinius Superbus, an attempt was 
made to undo this reform, which brought on a civil 
strife and resulted in the overthrow of the kingdom 
and the establishment of a republic. The struggle 
between these two classes continued for nearly four 
centuries, until 367 B. C, when the Plebeians won 
the victory and political equality was established. 

3. The early wars of the republic. During the 
early years of the republic, wars were carried on with 
the Etruscans, Sabines and other neighboring nations. 
In these wars Rome lost a considerable part of her 
dominion. 

4. The Gaulish invasion. About the year 390 
B. C. the Gauls, under Brennus, pressed southward 
from northern Italy, defeated the Romans on the 
AUia and, having burned the city, besieged the 

860 




361 



THE GIST OF TiHE BIBLE 



Capitol. This held out for seven months, upon the 
expiration of which the Gauls, tired of the conflict, 
agreed to retire upon receipt of a thousand pounds 
of gold. 

5. Wars of conquest in Italy. At this time Rome 
was but a small nation, including only a few town- 
ships on the banks of the Tiber. But, with the settle- 
ment of her internal strife in 367 B. C, she entered 
upon a new era, one of conquest. In the struggle 
which followed, and in which she met on the battle- 
field the Latins, the Samnites, the Gauls and the 
Greeks, Rome was completely successful and the 
stage was cleared for further and grander achieve- 
ments. The chief of these wars was that against the 
Greeks of southern Italy, who had invited Pyrrhus 
over from his native country to repel the "conquering 
barbarians of the Tiber." In the first two battles 
Pyrrhus was successful, his success being due largely 
to the elephants of which he made use and with 
which the Romans were unacquainted, but in the 
third and last he was signally defeated (275 B. C.). 
By 266 B. C. the Roman power was supreme through- 
out the length and breadth of the Italian peninsula. 

6. The Punic Wars. Having subjugated the 
various nations of Italy, Rome now turned her greedy 
eyes upon those powers whose territory lay outside 
of the confines of that country. At this time Car- 
thage was the leading maritime power of the western 
Mediterranean. A body of Campanian mercenaries, 
called Mamertines, having seized the town of Mes- 
sana on the Sicilian Straits, were threatened with 
destruction by the Carthaginians, upon which they 
appealed to Rome. This was the pretext that Rome 

362 



THE ROMAN PERIOD 



desired, and brought on the conflict which is known 
as the First Punic War. It continued for twenty- 
three years (264-241 B. C.) and ended with victory 
for the Romans. In the Second Punic War the first 
commander of the Carthaginians was Hamilcar. He 
began the campaign by subduing Spain and making 
it the basis of his operations against the Romans. 
Falling in battle, Hamilcar was succeeded by his son- 
in-law, Hasdrubal, and, upon his assassination, he 
was followed by Hannibal. This commander per- 
formed one of the greatest military feats known to 
history, for, successfully leading his army across the 
Alps, he poured it down upon the plains of Italy, 
where he defeated the Romans in battle after battle. 
It is probable that he would have conquered the 
entire country had it not been that a young Roman 
general, Scipio, entered Spain and cut off his rein- 
forcements. Scipio then crossed into Africa and 
defeated the Carthaginians in so many battles that 
Hannibal was recalled to defend Carthage, and so 
ended the Second Punic War. In the Third Punic 
War, which followed the second after an interval of 
fifty years, Carthage was taken after a four years' 
siege and the Carthaginians became the submissive 
subjects of Rome. 

7. The agrarian struggle. In the latter half of 
the second century B. C. the Romans had again 
become divided into two social classes — the rich and 
the poor, or the grandees and the paupers. The 
latter were very much oppressed and suffered untold 
hardships. This roused the noble young tribune, 
Tiberius Gracchus, grandson of Scipio Africanus, and 
he proposed a land law by which the amount of 

363 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



public land owned by one individual could not be 
more than five hundred jugera/ and provided that 
the remainder should be divided into small home- 
steads and distributed among the poorer class. But 
this measure was strongly opposed by the aristocracy 
and was vetoed by the colleague of Tiberius, Octa- 
vius. Tiberius then secured the expulsion of Octavius 
by popular vote and the land law was passed by the 
people B. C. 133. In the meantime, however, Tibe- 
rius' year of office expired and he was violently slain 
by the nobles to prevent his re-election. His death, 
however, did not render null the law, and the com- 
missioners intrusted with the task set about allotting 
the lands, although constantly opposed by the aris- 
tocracy. After ten years, Caius, the brother of 
Tiberius, took up the work of reform, but the nobles 
attacked him and his followers, slew a number of 
them, and Caius was forced to flee into a wood 
across the Tiber. Rather than fall into the hands 
of his enemies, he chose to die there by the hands 
of a faithful slave. 

8. The Mithridatic War. Mithridates, king of 
Pontus, was a bold and able warrior and an inveter- 
ate foe of Rome. He conceived the design of 
uniting the Asiatic states and Greece into a vast 
confederacy to check her rising power. To begin 
with, he caused the massacre of eighty thousand 
Romans, who dwelt in the cities of Asia Minor, in 
one day (88 B. C), after which he invaded Greece. 
In the struggle which ensued, he was overwhelmingly 
defeated by Sulla, the Roman commander. 



1 A juger was a Roman measure of land, 240x120 feet in dimensions. 
364 



THE ROMAN PERIOD 



9. The struggle between Marius and Sulla. After 
the death of the Gracchi, the Romans were divided 
into two parties, the nobles under the leadership of 
Sulla and the Commons under the leadership of 
Marius. When Sulla was given command of the 
Roman army in the Mithridatic War, the jealousy 
of Marius was aroused and he succeeded in having 
the popular party set Sulla aside. But Sulla marched 
to Rome and compelled Marius to flee to Africa, after 
which he entered upon his campaign. During his 
absence, however, Marius returned (86 B. C.) and 
deluged the city with the blood of his enemies. He 
then caused himself to be proclaimed consul, but a 
fortnight later died. Notwithstanding his death, the 
party of Marius continued in power, and, when Sulla 
heard of it, he hastily concluded a peace with Mith- 
ridates and returned home. Upon reaching Rome, he 
utterly overthrew the Marians and the city was a 
second time deluged in blood. He then had himself 
proclaimed dictator for an unlimited time (81 B. C), 
but, after holding this office for three years, he 
resigned and retired to private life. 

10. The Roman parties. After the death of Sulla 
(7S B. C.) the Roman people were divided into 
four distinct parties — the oligarchical, the aristocratic, 
the Marian and the military. The oligarchical party 
was composed of a small number of families, the 
chiefs of which controlled the senate and thus gov- 
erned the republic. The aristocratic party was made 
up of the mass of the senators anxious to obtain the 
power usurped by a few of their colleagues. The 
Marians included all those who had been persecuted 
by Sulla and who were now ambitious of obtaining 

365 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



power. And the military embraced a number of old 
Roman officers who were eager for a revolution in 
order that they might retrieve their squandered for- 
tunes. The leader of the first was the orator Marcus 
Tullius Cicero, of the second was Crassus, of the 
third was Julius Csesar, and of the fourth was 
Cataline. 

11. The Cataline conspiracy. Cataline had been 
one of the ablest of the generals of Sulla. Being de- 
feated for the consulship by Cicero, he became en- 
raged and laid a plot both to kill the orator and burn 
Rome. This plot was, however, revealed by a 
woman, and Cicero denounced him with such fiery 
eloquence that he was forced to flee from the city. 
In his attempt to reach Gaul he was overtaken and 
slain in Etruria (62 B. C). 

12. Julius Caesar. From now on the history of 
Rome is largely interwoven with the history of one 
man — Julius Caesar. He was a nephew of Marius, of 
Patrician birth, but took up the cause of the Com- 
mons to serve his own ends. One of his first public 
acts was the formation of the celebrated "First Tri- 
umvirate," in which he, Pompey and Crassus were 
colleagues. In 59 B. C. he was elected to the consul- 
ship, and from 58 to 50 B. C. carried on his celebrated 
eight campaigns in Gaul. During his absence Crassus 
was assassinated in Parthia, and this reduced the 
triumvirate to a duumvirate. For some time there 
had been a growing coldness between the remaining 
two, and this developed into an open rupture when 
Caesar announced his intentions of running for the 
consulship. Pompey resented this, and Caesar crossed 
the Rubicon (49 B. C.) and soon made himself mas- 

366 



THE ROMAN PERIOD 



ter of Italy. Pompey retired to the east, where he 
collected a great army in Thessaly. With this he 
met Caesar at Pharsalia (48 B. C), where he was 
decisively defeated. He was later assassinated in 
Egypt. Csesar next became enamored of Cleopatra, 
the fascinating queen of Egypt, and became mixed 
up in the quarrel between her and her brother-hus- 
band, Ptolemy. In the struggle that ensued, Csesar 
was successful, Ptolemy was slain and Cleopatra was 
placed upon the throne, but the celebrated library of 
Alexandria was accidentally destroyed. Following 
this, Csesar defeated the Pompeian forces in both 
Africa and Spain, and by so doing made himself 
complete master of Rome. He was now given the 
title of "Imperator" for life and ruled with modera- 
tion and good judgment. But, exciting the jealousy 
of rivals, he was finally assassinated in a plot laid 
by Caius Cassius and Marcus Junius Brutus (March 
15, B. C. 44). 

13. Caesar's successors. Immediately following the 
death of Csesar, rival claimants arose aspiring to his 
position. In the war that ensued, Brutus and Cas- 
sius, with the republican army, were totally defeated 
by Antony and Octavius at Philippi (42 B. C), and 
both of the defeated generals killed themselves. After 
this victory the Roman world was divided among 
three of the victors, as follows: Antony took the 
east, Octavius the west and, Lepidus the province of 
Africa. But hardly had the division been made when 
a quarrel arose between Antony and Octavius. 
Antony had become deeply fascinated with the 
Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, and divorced his own 
wife, Octavia, sister of Octavius, that he might 

24 367 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



marry Cleopatra. This enraged Octavius, and he 
marched against Antony and severely defeated him 
in the battle of Actium (31 B. C.)- Later, both 
Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide, and both 
Rome and Egypt passed into the hands of the 
Caesars. 

14. The Roman Empire. The Roman Empire may 
be said to date from 27 B. C, when Octavius was 
saluted with the new and peculiar title of Augustus. 
The history of Rome as an empire may be divided 
into two divisions — Rome under paganism and Rome 
under Christianity. The empire continued a pagan 
government from 27 B. C. to about 325 A. D., when, 
under Constantine, the state religion was changed to 
Christianity. It continued under Christianity from 
325 A. D. to its subversion by the Goths under 
Odoacer in 476 A. D. In the year 395 A. D., upon 
the death of Theodosius, the Roman Empire was 
divided between his two sons, Honorius taking the 
west and Arcadius taking the east. It was the 
western empire that came to an end in 476 A. D. ; 
the eastern continued down to the fifteenth century, 
when it was destroyed by the Turks. 

II. ROMAN CULTURE 

1. The government of Rome. As we have seen, 
Rome passed successively under three forms of gov- 
ernment — the kingly, republican and imperial. At 
the beginning of the latter, when Augustus took the 
throne, the population of the Roman Empire is esti- 
mated as having been one hundred million, fully one- 
half of whom were slaves, while of the rest only a 
small proportion enjoyed the privileges of citizenship. 

368 



THE ROMAN PERIOD 



The various lands and peoples were under military 
officials called legates, one-half of whom were ap- 
pointed by Augustus, the other half by the senate. 
Peace was preserved at home by the pretorimt 
cohorts, troops of tried valor under double pay, and 
throughout the provinces by a standing army of 
350,000 men. 

2. Roman morals. In the beginning of her his- 
tory, the morals of Rome were pure, but as the 
centuries slipped by moral sentiment gradually waned 
until, at the time of Christ, her moral practices 
beggar description. Vices of all kinds were rampant. 
Licentiousness was widely spread. Sins that can 
not be described in plain English were condoned. 
Murder was common. And infanticide was resorted 
to by poor parents to get rid of the burden of rearing 
children. The iniquity of Rome during the reign of 
the Caesars was black and deep. 

3. Roman amusements. The stage, the circus and 
the arena afforded amusement for the Roman popu- 
lace. These were employed by the emperors for the 
purpose of turning the attention of the people from 
the thought of liberty. On the stage the most vulgar 
and indecent plays were given. At the circus there 
were foot-races, horse-races and other feats of strength 
and skill. But it was in the arena that the Romans 
found their chief delight. Here hordes of criminals, 
prisoners of war and slaves fought in the gladiatorial 
contests with one another or defended themselves 
against the ravenous beasts that were turned loose 
upon them. Under Julius Caesar, at one time, not 
fewer than 320 pairs of gladiators were compelled to 
fight. Under Augustus, ten thousand men joined in 

3a9 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



these contests, while Trajan (106 A. D.) pitted the 
same number in these combats after his victories on 
the Danube. It would seem that Rome at the zenith 
of her glory was satisfied only with gross licentious- 
ness and the shedding of blood. 

4. Roman religion. The religion of the Romans 
was almost identical with that of the Greeks, and 
they worshiped the same gods, only under different 
names. These gods and goddesses were Jupiter, 
Neptune, Pluto, Juno, Mars, Saturn, Apollo, Diana, 
Mercury, Minerva and Venus. These deities were 
either deified heroes and heroines, or else they were 
the personifications of the objects, forces and phe- 
nomena of nature. As their worship conduced to the 
grossest immorality, the educated classes broke away 
from it and became skeptical, although the lower 
classes accepted these divinities as hona-fide beings. 

5. Roman literature. Although Rome was pre- 
eminently a nation of warriors, she had writers who 
produced literary works of merit. Among her poets 
may be mentioned the names of Virgil, Horace, 
Lucretius, Catullus and Ovid, and among her histo- 
rians, Sallust, Livy and Tacitus. Martial was a 
writer of epigrams and Juvenal was a bitter satirist. 
Augustus was a great patron of literary men and 
artists, as was also his minister, Caius Cilnius Maece- 
nas, and the interest that they took in literature 
added to the glories of the "Augustan Age." 

6. Roman art. The structures of Rome were 
noted for their solidity and strength as well as their 
beauty. Although she had been a splendid city be- 
fore the "Augustan Age," Rome became more splen- 
did under the labors of that emperor. It was 

370 



THE ROMAN PERIOD 



Augustus' boast that ''he found the city brick and 
left it marble." The walls of Rome were twenty 
miles in length and were pierced with thirty gates. 
Her most remarkable structures were the Coliseum, 
the Capitol with its temples, the Senate-house and 
the Forum. The Coliseum was an immense amphi- 
theater, with a seating capacity of one hundred 
thousand spectators. Here is where the gladiatorial 
contests took place. The Forum was the place of 
public assembly. It was surrounded with temples, 
halls of justice and public offices, and was adorned 
with statues erected in honor of eminent warriors 
and statesmen. The aqueducts were among the most 
remarkable of Rome's architectural works. Fully 
twenty of them were constructed by the emperors 
and brought pure water from a distance into the 
city. At the zenith of her glory, Rome is said to 
have contained 420 temples, five regular theaters, two 
amphitheaters, seven circuses of vast extent, and six- 
teen public baths, besides palaces, public halls, 
columns and porticoes. 

QUESTIONS 

Name the four ancient races of Italy. Give the tradition of 
the founding of Rome. In what year was Rome founded? 
When did Rome finally fall? Locate chronologically the three 
periods of her history. How many kings reigned in Rome during 
her first period? Who were the Patricians and the Plebeians? 
With what nations did Rome fight during the early part of her 
history? When did the Gauls invade Roman territory? Who 
was their leader? With what nations did Rome fight in her 
conquest of Italy? Who was Pyrrhus? In what year was 
Roman power supreme in the peninsula? What were the Punic 
Wars? How many of them were there? Who were the com- 
manders of the Carthaginian and Roman forces in the second? 

371 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



What was the agrarian struggle? Who were the Gracchi? Who 
won the victory in this struggle? Tell about the Mithridatic 
War. Tell about the struggle between Sulla and Marius. Into 
how many parties was Roman citizenship divided after the death 
of Sulla ? Name them and their leaders. Tell about the Cataline 
conspiracy. Give a brief account of Julius Caesar. What two 
men headed the conspiracy which took his life? When was he 
assassinated? Give the names of his successors. What hap- 
pened to Cassius and Brutus? What difficulty arose between 
Antony and Octavius? Where was Antony defeated, and when? 
What happened, finally, to Antony and Cleopatra? When did 
the Roman Empire commence? Into what two divisions may we 
divide the history of the Roman Empire? Give the dates that 
begin and end each. When was the Roman Empire divided? 
When did western Rome fall? When did eastern Rome fall? 
Describe the government of Rome. Tell about the morals of 
Rome. Describe the amusements of Rome. Give a description 
of the Roman religion. Tell about Roman literature. What can 
you say about Roman art? 



372 



PART IV. NEW TESTAMENT 
HISTORY 



Study XXXI. 


The Period of Preparation. 


Study XXXII. 


The Beginnings of Christ's 


Ministry. 




Study XXXIII. 


The Great Galilean Ministry. 


Study XXXIV. 


The Period of Retirement. 


Study XXXV. 


The Closing of Christ's Min- 


istry. 




Study XXXVI. 


The Last Week. 


Study XXXVII. 


The Resurrection Days. 


Study XXXVIII. 


The Beginnings of the Church. 


Study XXXIX. 


The Life of Paul. 


Study XL. 


The New Testament Writings. 



378 



STUDY XXXI. THE PERIOD OF PREPA- 
RATION 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The pre-existence of Jesus Christ. The exist- 
ence of the Son of God did not begin with his birth. 
He was with the Father in the beginning and was 
His agent in the creation of the world. This doctrine 
is plainly taught in John 1:1-14; 17:5; Phil. 2:5-8; 
Col. 1:16, 17; Heb. 1:2, and many other passages. 
The incarnation, by which the pre-existent Word 
became flesh, is one of the great mysteries of the 
Christian faith.^ 

2. The Messianic expectation. The expectation of 
a Messiah^ was not alone confined to the Jews, but 
was also shared by the surrounding pagan nations. 
Suetonius, the celebrated Roman historian, says: "An 

**'The names Jesus, Christ or Messiah, Only Begotten Son, Son of 
God, belong to the Founder of the Christian religion, and to none else. 
They express not a relation existing before the Christian era, but relations 
which commenced at that time. To understand the relation betwixt the 
Saviour and his Father, which existed before time, and that relation which 
began in time is impossible on either of these theories (Trinitarian, 
Arian and Socinian). There was no Jesus, no Messiah, no Christ, no Son 
of God, no Only Begotten, before the reign of Augustus Caesar. The re- 
lation that was before the Christian era was not that of a son and a father, 
terms which always imply disparity; but it was that expressed by John in 
the sentence under consideration. The relation was that of God and the 
'word of God.' This phraseology unfolds a relation quite diflferent from 
that of a father and a son — a relation perfectly intimate, equal and glorious." 
— Alexander Campbell, in "Christian Baptist," pp. 333, 334. 

2 The term "Messiah," in the Hebrew, as does also the word "Christ," 
which is from the Greek Christos, means "The Anointed One." 

375 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



ancient and settled persuasion prevailed throughout 
the East that the Fates had decreed some one to 
proceed from Judea who should attain universal 
empire." And Tacitus, another Roman historian, 
says: "Many were persuaded that it was contained 
in the ancient books of their priests that at that very 
time the East should prevail and that some one 
should proceed from Judea and possess the dominion/' 

3. The time of Christ's birth. According to our 
chronology, Jesus was born in the year 1 B. C. But 
it is now known that this is a mistake and that he 
was born four years before the beginning of our era. 
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, in their "Commen- 
tary," say: "As Herod is known to have died in the 
year of Rome 750, in the fourth year before the com- 
mencement of our Christian era, the birth of Christ 
must be dated four years before the date usually 
assigned to it." Whether or not He was born on 
December 25 is a much-discussed question and one 
upon which we have no certain information. 

4. Palestine in the time of Christ. In the time 
of Christ, the population of the Holy Land is esti- 
mated to have been about three million, of whom 
two hundred thousand^ were found in the city of 

* The population of Palestine, as given, is only conjectural. According 
to Josephus, there were 2,500,000 Jews assembled at the last Passover just 
before the city was taken by Titus. Of this number, 1,100,000 perished in 
the siege, while 347,000 perished in other places. Of the remainder, 97,000 
were carried into captivity, while 11,000 more starved through neglect or 
sullen refusal of food. Making all due allowances for exaggeration, it may 
not be out of the way very far to put the population of Palestine in the 
time of Christ at about 3,000,000. For the population of Jerusalem, as given, 
see Edersheim's "Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah," Vol. I., p. 116, 
where the author says: "Its population, computed at from 200,000 to 250,000, 
was enormously swelled by travelers, and by pilgrims during the great 
festivals." 

376 




377 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Jerusalem. The territory was divided into five 
provinces : Judea, Samaria and Galilee west of the 
Jordan, and Perea and Bashan east of the Jordan. 
At the birth of Christ this was all under the rule 
of Herod the Great, an Edomite, but upon his death 
it was divided into four tetrarchies. One of these 
tetrarchies was ruled by Archelaus, and comprised 
Samaria, Judea and Idumea. Another, under Herod 
Antipas, included Galilee and Perea. A third, under 
Philip II., took in Bashan. And a fourth, which fell 
to the lot of Lysanias, comprised the territory 
between Mount Hor and Damascus. 

5. The order of events in the life of Christ. The 
order of events in the life of Christ can not be defi- 
nitely determined. John alone supplies the history 
of the first year of His ministry. As for the re- 
mainder of His life, the true order of events, prob- 
ably, is best preserved in the Gospel of Luke, al- 
though he omits many important occurrences which 
must be supplied from the other writers.^ 

I. THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION AS IT 
CONCERNS JOHN 

1. The parentage of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5). 
John the* Baptist was the son of Zacharias and Elis- 
abeth. His father was a priest of the course of 
Abia,^ and his mother also was of the daughters of 
Aaron. 



1 In the preparation of the "Studies" upon the life of Christ, I have 
largely followed the general divisions and the order of events as given in 
"A Harmony of the Gospels," by Dr. J. A. Broadus, to which I acknowledge 
my indebtedness. 

2 This was the eighth of the twenty-four orders, or courses, into which 
David divided the priesthood. 

378 



THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION 

2. The annunciation of John*s birth (Luke 1:6- 
25). Zacharias and Elisabeth were both righteous 
before God, but they were well advanced in years 
and had no child. As Zacharias was officiating in 
the Temple, burning incense, the angel Gabriel ' 
appeared to him and told him not to fear; that a 
son should be born to him whom he should call 
John; that he should drink no wine nor strong drink 
from his birth,^ and that he should go before the 
face of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah. 
Zacharias doubted and demanded a sign, whereupon 
the angel said that, as a sign, he should be dumb 
until the child's birth. At these words Zacharias 
lost the power of speech and did not utter a word 
until after John was born. 

3. Mary visits Elisabeth (Luke 1:39-56). In 
those days Mary went into the hill-country to the 
city of Judah, where Zacharias and Elisabeth lived, 
and, entering the house, saluted Elisabeth. When 
Elisabeth saw Mary, the Spirit of the Lord rested 
upon her and she exclaimed : "Blessed art thou 
among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my 
Lord should come to me?" Mary replied to this 
salutation by declaring that her soul magnified the 
Lord; that He had looked upon her low estate, and 
that He had done great things. She abode three 
months with Elisabeth and then returned to her 
home. 

4. The birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1 : 57-80). 

* In the ordinary traditions, both Jewish and Christian, Gabriel is 
spoken of as one of the archangels. 

^John was a Nazarite, the vow of which order is found in Numbers 6. 
379 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



When the time was fulfilled, John the Baptist was 
born amidst the rejoicing of Elisabeth's neighbors 
and kinsfolk. On the eighth day they came to cir- 
cumcise him and would have called his name Zach- 
arias, but his mother insisted that he be called John. 
This was objected to as none of her kindred were 
called by that name, but when by signs his father 
was asked for a name, he gave the same. Then 
Zacharias received his speech, was filled with the 
Holy Spirit and began to prophesy to the astonish- 
ment of all present. 

5. The preaching of John the Baptist (Matt. 3: 
1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-18). In the fifteenth 
year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (probably A. D. 
25 or 26), the word of the Lord came to John and he 
began to preach in the wilderness of Judea the bap- 
tism of repentance for the remission of sins, saying 
that, while he baptized in water, there was to come 
one after him, mightier than he, who was to baptize 
with the Holy Spirit and with fire. John was clothed 
in a garment of camel's hair and his food was 
locusts' and wild honey. Great multitudes flocked 
to his baptism from Jerusalem and Judea and were 
baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.^ 

6. John baptizes Jesus (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1: 
9-11; Luke 3:21, 22). Among the multitude who 
came to John for baptism was Jesus. At first John 
objected, but when Jesus insisted that it be done to 
fulfill all righteousness, he consented. 



* The locusts of Palestine were similar to our grasshoppers. Four of 
the seven or more species were allowed by the Mosaic law to be eaten. 

' As those who were baptized by John in Jordan confessed their sins, 
his baptism must have been adult baptism. The so-called baptism of chil- 
dren is a practice unknown to the word of God. 

380 



THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION 

7. John's testimony to Jesus (John 1 : 19-34 ; 3 : 
22-36). After His baptism, Jesus retired into the 
wilderness of Judea, where He was tempted of the 
devil for forty days, at the expiration of which time 
He returned to where John was baptizing. When 
John saw Him, he exclaimed: "Behold the Lamb of 
God, which taketh away the sin of the world." 

8. The imprisonment and death of John the Bap- 
tist (Matt. 4:12; 14:1-12; Mark 6:16-29; 9:13; 
Luke 3:18-20). After this John was put in prison 
by Herod the tetrarch, at the instigation of Herodias, 
his brother Philip's wife, because he had said that it 
was unlawful for Herod to have her. At the cele- 
bration of Herod's birthday, Salome, Herodias' daugh- 
ter, danced before him and so pleased him that he 
promised to give her whatsoever she should ask, 
even unto the half of his kingdom. Her mother told 
her to ask for the head of John the Baptist. Herod 
was greatly troubled at this request, but was held 
to his oath and so commanded that John be beheaded. 
This was done, and the head was brought in a 
charger to Salome, who took it to her mother. Then 
John's disciples buried the body and went and told 
Jesus.* 

IL THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION AS IT 
CONCERNS JESUS 

1. The putative parents of Jesus (Matt. 1:16). 
The putative parents of Jesus were Joseph, a car- 
penter, a descendant of David, and Mary, a virgin, a 



^ The death of John the Baptist did not occur until after Jesus had 
begrun His ministry, probably just before the third Passover in the same. 

381 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



daughter of Heli (Luke 3:23)' and also a descendant 
of David. 

2. The annunciation to Mary of the birth of Jesus 

(Luke 1:26-38). Joseph and Mary lived at Nazareth 
in Galilee, and it was there announced to the latter 
by the angel Gabriel that she should miraculously 
bring forth a son whom she should name Jesus. He 
was to be called the Son of the Highest, and to Him 
was to be given the throne of His father David, and 
He was to reign over the house of Jacob forever, and 
of His kingdom there was to be no end. 

3. The annunciation to Joseph of the birth of 
Jesus (Matt. 1:18-25). When Joseph, the husband 
of Mary, discovered her condition, he was minded 
to put her away privately, but an angel of the Lord 
appeared to him in a dream and said: "Joseph, thou 
son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy 
wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the 
Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and 
thou shalt call his name JESUS : for he shall save 
his people from their sins." ' 

4. The birth of Jesus (Luke 2: 1-7). In those days 
Augustus Caesar made a decree that the whole world 
should be enrolled, and Joseph, with his wife Mary, 
went to Bethlehem, his native city, for that purpose. 
While there, Jesus was born and was wrapped in 
swaddling-clothes'' and was laid in a manger, because 
there was no room in the inn. 



^ In Matthew, Joseph is said to be the son of Jacob, and in Luke, the 
son of Heli. The latter should probably be rendered "the son-in-law of 
Hell," which would make this person the father of Mary. 

2 Men have become sons of God in three ways: Adam by creation, Jesus 
by generation, and the saints by regeneration. 

8 A piece of cloth a few inches broad and several feet long. 
382 



THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION 

5. The annunciation to the shepherds of the birth 
of Jesus (Luke 2:8-20). There were shepherds in 
that country keeping watch over their flocks by 
night, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them 
who, as they were sore afraid, said : "Fear not : for, 
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which 
shall be to all people. For unto you is born this 
day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ 
the Lord." Then suddenly there appeared with the 
angel a multitude of the heavenly host, who sang: 
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, 
good will toward men," Going into the city, the 
shepherds found the babe in the manger and returned 
glorifying God. 

6. The circumcision and presentation of Jesus 
(Luke 2:21-38). On the eighth day, according to 
the law, Jesus was circumcised, and at the end of 
forty He was taken to Jerusalem and presented to 
the Lord in the Temple. Here Sim.eon, a just and 
devout man, who waited for the consolation of Israel 
and who had received the promise that he should not 
die until he had seen the Lord's Christ, met and 
blessed Him. And Anna, an aged prophetess of the 
tribe of Asher, when she had seen Him, also gave 
thanks and spoke of Him to all them that looked for 
redemption in Jerusalem. 

7. The visit of the Magi (Matt. 2:1-12). Wise- 
men,* also, came from the East, guided by a star, in- 
quiring where He could be found who was born 



^ These Wise-men, or Magi, were probably of the learned class who 
studied astrology and kindred sciences. They may have known from the 
prophecy of Balaam (Num. 24:17) and that of Daniel (Dan. 7:24), that 
the time was at hand for the Messiah to appear. Whether they came from 
Mesopotamia, Persia or Arabia is unknown. 
25 383 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



King of the Jews. When this came to the ears of 
Herod, he was greatly troubled and, calling together 
the chief priests and scribes, he inquired where the 
Christ should be born. They replied, *'In Bethlehem 
of Judsea." Herod then secretly called the Wise-men 
to him and told them that, when they had found the 
child, they should bring him word, that he, too, 
might come and worship Him. Following the star, 
the Wise-men were brought to where Jesus lay, 
but, when they had worshiped Him and had made 
Him presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh, being 
warned of God in a dream, they departed into their 
own country another way. 

8. The flight into Egypt (Matt. 2:13-18). When 
the Wise-men had departed, an angel appeared to 
Joseph and told him to take the young child and 
His mother and flee into Egypt, as Herod would 
seek to destroy His life. Joseph did as he was 
bidden, and, after his departure, Herod slew all the 
male children of two years old and under, that were 
within the borders of Bethlehem. 

9. The return to Nazareth (Matt. 2:19-23; Luke 
2:39). After Herod's death, Joseph, by the direction 
of the angel, took Mary and Jesus and returned to 
Nazareth of Galilee. 

10. The boyhood visit to Jerusalem (Luke 2:40- 
50). The parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem every 
year to attend the Feast of the Passover. When 
Jesus was twelve years of age, they went down as 
was their custom, but, when they returned. He 
remained behind. After a day's journey, His parents 
discovered that He was not with them and, turning 
back, they sought for Him in the city. At the end 

384 



THE PERIOD OF PREPARAlTlON 

of three days they found Him in the Temple hearing 
the doctors of the law and answering their questions. 
His mother reproved Him for his conduct, upon which 
He asked: "Wist ye not that I must be about my 
Father's business?" 

11. The eighteen silent years (Luke 2:52). Of 
the eighteen silent years that intervened between 
the visit of Jesus to Jerusalem and his entrance into 
public life we know but little. This period is covered 
by these simple words: "And Jesus increased in 
wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and 
man/' 

12. The baptism of Jesus (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 
1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23). In the fifteenth year of the 
reign of Tiberius Caesar, John the Baptist began his 
ministry in the wilderness of Judea and multitudes 
flocked to him to be baptized. Among them was 
Jesus, who came from Galilee. At first John refused, 
saying: "I have need to be baptized of thee, and 
comest thou to me?" But, as Jesus insisted that it 
be done to fulfill all righteousness, John baptized 
Him. When Jesus came up out of the water, the 
Spirit as a dove descended upon Him and a voice 
from heaven said: "This is my beloved Son, in whom 
I am well pleased." 

13. The temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11; Mark 
1 : 12, 13; Luke 4: 1-13). After his baptism, Jesus was 
led of the Spirit into the wilderness, where He was 
tempted of the devil for forty days. The temptation 
was threefold: to turn stones into bread, the offer 
of all the kingdoms of the world provided He would 
worship the devil, and to cast Himself down from 
the pinnacle of the Temple. In all of these tempta- 

385 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



tions Jesus repulsed Satan, and, when he had 
departed, angels came and ministered unto Him. 

QUESTIONS 

Did the existence of Christ begin with his birth? Give some 
of the passages in the New Testament which plainly teach 
Christ's pre-existence. Was the expectation of a Messiah alone 
confined to the Jews? What can you say about the time of 
Christ's birth? Do we know for sure that he was born on 
December 25? Give the population of Palestine in the time of 
Christ. Give the population of Jerusalem. What great ruler 
governed Palestine at the birth of Christ? Into how many 
divisions was his territory divided after his death? What can 
you say of the order of events in the life of Christ? Give the 
names of the father and mother of John the Baptist. Tell about 
the annunciation of his birth to Zacharias. Who visited Elisabeth 
at this time? Give the circumstances attending the birth of 
John. In what year did John begin to preach? What did he 
preach? What did he wear and what did he eat? Who came to 
be baptized? Give John's testimony to Jesus. Who slew John 
and why? Give the names of the putative parents of Jesus. 
What did the angel Gabriel tell Mary? What did an angel of 
the Lord tell Joseph? Where was Jesus born? Tell about the 
visit of the shepherds. How old was Jesus when He was cir- 
cumcised? How old was He when He was presented in the 
Temple? Give the names of two persons whom he met there. 
Tell about the visit of the Magi. Where did Joseph and his 
household flee, and why? To what city did they afterwards 
return? Where did Jesus go when He was twelve years old? 
How many years of Christ's life are called silent years, and why? 
In what year was Christ baptized? Give the circumstances at- 
tending His baptism. Tell about Christ's temptation. 



386 



STUDY XXXII. THE BEGINNINGS OF 
CHRIST'S MINISTRY 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The date. This period in the history of our 
Lord lay, for the most part, probably, within the 
year 27 A. D. It is known as the 'Teriod of Obscu- 
rity" and lasted several months. 

2. The condition of the Jews. At this time the 
Jews were restive under the rule of Rome and lived 
in the expectation of a coming Messiah who should 
deliver them from their oppressors and should estab- 
lish an earthly kingdom. Their religion, however, 
presents many phases : the assumed and outward 
piety of the Pharisees; the exclusiveness and rigid 
morality of the Essenes; the infidelity and unbelief, 
in respect to a future life, on the part of the Saddu- 
cees, and the extreme worldliness and indifference to 
holy things which characterized the Herodians. The 
popularity of John's startling and revolutionary mes- 
sage is a clear proof that the people generally were 
becoming tired of these old, effete forms of faith 
and were ready for the new. 

3. The order of events. The present study opens 
with Christ at Bethabara, beyond Jordan, where John 
was baptizing. From there He goes into Galilee, 
where, at Cana, He turns the water into wine. Then 
we find Him going down to Jerusalem to attend the 
Passover, during which He cleanses the Temple and 

387 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLlS 



converses with Nicodemus. And, after a brief min- 
istry in Judea, He returns again to Galilee, passing 
through Samaria, where He meets the Samaritan 
woman at the well of Sychar. 

I. CHRIST'S MINISTRY AT BETHABARA 

I.John's testimony to Jesus (John 1; 19-34). 
After His temptation in the wilderness, Jesus returned 
to John at Bethabara. The Jews at Jerusalem had 
sent priests and Levites to the Baptist, asking him 
who he was. John denied both being the Christ and 
Elijah, and said: "I am the voice of one crying in 
the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, 
as said the prophet Esaias." When asked why he 
baptized if he were not the Christ, Elijah or one of 
the prophets, he replied: "I baptize with water: but 
there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 
he it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, 
whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." 
The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and 
said: ''Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away 
the sin of the world." 

2. Jesus calls his first disciples (John 1:35-51). 
The day following, John was standing with two of 
his disciples when Jesus passed by. John said again, 
"Behold the Lamb of God," and his two disciples left 
him and followed Jesus. Jesus turned to them and 
asked: "What seek ye?" They replied: "Rabbi, where 
dwellest thou?" Jesus answered: "Come and see." 
And they went with Him and abode that day. One 
of the two was Andrew, who went, and, finding his 
brother Simon Peter, said to him: "We have found 
the Messias." When Jesus saw Peter, He said: 

388 



THE BEGINNINGS OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY 

"Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be 
called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone." 
The next day Jesus decided to depart into Galilee 
and, finding Philip, who lived in Bethsaida, the city 
of Andrew and Peter, He said: "Follow me." Philip 
went and sought out his brother Nathanael, and 
said: "We have found him, of whom Moses in the 
law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, 
the son of Joseph." Nathanael asked: "Can there 
any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip re- 
plied: "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael 
coming to Him, He exclaimed : "Behold an Israelite 
indeed, in whom is no guile !" To which Nathanael 
answered: "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou 
art the King of Israel." 

II. CHRIST'S FIRST MINISTRY IN GALILEE 

1. The first miracle, at Cana (John 2:1-11). Re- 
turning to Galilee, Jesus, with His mother and His 
disciples, attended a wedding at Cana. When the 
wine failed. His mother came to Him, saying, "They 
have no wine." Jesus replied: "Woman, what have 
I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come." 
He then commanded the servants to fill six water- 
pots of stone with water. When they had filled 
them to the brim, He commanded them to draw 
out and to bear to the ruler of the feast, who, 
when he had tasted the liquid, declared it to be 
good wine. 

2. The first sojourn at Capernaum (John 2:12). 
After performing this miracle at Cana, Jesus, with 
His mother, brethren and disciples, went to Caper- 
naum, where they continued for a short time. 

389 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



III. CHRIST'S FIRST MINISTRY IN JUDEA 

1. The first cleansing of the Temple (John 2: 13- 
22). The Passover of the Jews being at hand, Jesus 
went to Jerusalem to attend it. He found in the 
Temple those who sold oxen, sheep and doves, and 
with them the changers of money, and, making a 
scourge of cords, He drove them out, saying: "Take 
these things hence; make not my Father's house an 
house of merchandise." When the Jews required a 
sign of His authority for doing this, He replied, 
"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise 
it up," referring to His body and its resurrection. 

2. Jesus and Nicodemus (John 2:23-3:21). There 
was in Jerusalem a Pharisee, Nicodemus by name, 
who had seen the miracles which Jesus performed 
and who came to Him by night, saying: "Rabbi, we 
know that thou art a teacher come from God: for 
no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except 
God be with him." Jesus replied to him : "Verily, 
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, 
he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus did 
not seem to comprehend this statement, so Jesus 
said further: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except 
a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot 
enter into the kingdom of God." The Lord then 
instructed Nicodemus in the purpose of His mission. 

3. Jesus preaches and baptizes in Judea (John 3 : 
22-36). Jesus now went into Judea with his dis- 
ciples, and there he tarried and baptized." At this 
time John was baptizing at ^non, near to Salim, 
because there was much water there. A controversy 



That is, Jesus baptized through the agency of his disciples. 
390 



THE BEGINNINGS OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY 

arising between the disciples of John and the Jews 
over purification, the former came to John, saying: 
"Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to 
whom thou barest witness, behold, the same bap- 
tizeth, and all men come to him." Then John denied 
again that he was the Christ, claiming simply that 
he was His forerunner, and declaring that he must 
decrease while Christ must increase. 

IV. CHRIST'S MINISTRY IN SAMARIA 

1. Christ's reasons for leaving Judea (Matt. 4: 12; 
Mark 1:14; Luke 4:14; John 4:1-4). When Jesus 
heard that John had been delivered up and also that 
the Pharisees had heard that He made and baptized 
more disciples than John, He went into Galilee, going 
through Samaria.^ 

2. Christ and the woman of Samaria (John 4 : 5- 
42). On His way to Galilee, Jesus stopped at 
Jacob's well, near Sychar. While He tarried, His 
disciples having gone into the city to buy meat, a 
woman of Samaria came to the well to draw water 
and He asked of her a drink. The woman was sur- 
prised and asked : *'How is it that thou, being a Jew, 
askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? 
for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans." 
Jesus answered : "If thou knewest the gift of God, and 
who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink ; thou 
wouldest have asked of him, and he would have 
given thee living water." Then Jesus explained His 
mission and revealed the woman's sinful life so per- 
fectly that she returned to the city and said to the 



^ The usual route for the strict Jew, who despised the Samaritans, was 
through the Jordan Valley. 

391 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



people: **Come, see a man, which told me all things 
that ever I did." The people followed her and, when 
they had seen Jesus, many of them believed on Him. 
3. Jesus' reception in Galilee (John 4:43-45). 
After two days Jesus departed into Galilee, where he 
was well received of the people, they having seen 
the miracles which He had performed at Jerusalem. 

QUESTIONS 

In what year did the events of this period in the life of 
Christ occur? What is this period called? Give the condition 
of the Jews at this time. Give the order of events in this period. 
Where was John baptizing? What did John deny being? What 
did he say that he was ? What did he call Jesus ? Give the names 
of the first four disciples. Which two are mentioned first? 
To what city did they all belong? Where was the first miracle 
in Galilee performed and what was it? At what city in Galilee 
did Jesus sojourn for a short time? Tell about the first cleans- 
ing of the Temple. Tell about the conversation with Nicodemus. 
Where was John baptizing at this time, and why? Tell about 
a controversy which arose between his disciples and the Jews. 
Where did Jesus baptize after the Passover? Why did Jesus 
leave Judea? Tell about His conversation with the woman of 
Samaria. How did the Galileans receive Him? 



392 



STUDY XXXIII. THE GREAT GALILEAN 
MINISTRY 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The date. This period probably comprised 
more than a year in A. D. 27 and 28. It is known 
as the "Period of Popularity." 

2. Galilee. Galilee was the northernmost of the 
three districts of Palestine west of the Jordan. It 
was divided into Upper and Lower. Upper Galilee 
was distinctively called "Galilee of the Gentiles" 
from its having more of a mixed population in which 
Gentile blood predominated, while Lower Galilee was 
more distinctively Jewish. The principal city of the 
first was Csesarea Philippi; of the second, the prin- 
cipal cities were Tiberias, Chorazin, Nazareth, Nain, 
Cana, Capernaum and Ptolemais. Josephus repre- 
sents the Galileans as a turbulent and rebellious 
people, always ready to revolt against Roman author- 
ity. The Sea, or Lake, of Galilee, which plays such 
an important part in sacred history, is a body of 
water about twelve miles long by seven wide, which 
lies very deep among fruitful hills and mountains. 
Originally, the borders of this lake were well peopled, 
being covered with towns and villages, but to-day 
they are almost desolate. The water is very clear 
and sweet and abounds in various kinds of excellent 
fish. 

3. The order of events. This study opens with 

393 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Christ in Galilee, at Cana and Nazareth. Rejected 
at the latter place, He goes to Capernaum, which, 
during the first part of this period, is the basis of 
His operations. He then attends the feast at Jeru- 
salem, where He heals a palsied man at the pool of 
Bethesda. And later He returns to Gahlee, but is 
not so closely confined to Capernaum in His minis- 
trations as at the first. 

I. CHRIST'S OPENING WORK IN GALILEE 

1. The general subject of Christ's teaching (Matt. 
4:17; Mark 1:14, 15; Luke 4:14, 15). From the 
time that Jesus entered Galilee, He preached the 
gospel of God, saying: "Repent: for the kingdom of 
heaven is at hand." And His fame spread through- 
out all the region round about and He was glorified 
of all. 

2. The healing of the nobleman's son (John 4 : 46- 
54). Jesus came to Cana, and when a certain noble- 
man of Capernaum, whose son was sick, heard that 
He was in Galilee, he came to Him and besought 
Him that He might come down and heal him. The 
Lord said to him : "Go thy way ; thy son liveth." 
And the nobleman returned to discover that his son 
had begun to recover at the very hour in which 
Jesus had spoken to him. 

3. The rejection at Nazareth (Matt. 4: 13-16; Luke 
4:16-31). Jesus now returned to Nazareth, where 
He was brought up, and went into the synagogue 
on the sabbath day and stood up to read. There was 
delivered to Him the Book of Isaiah, and He opened 
it and read : "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, 
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to 

394 



THE GREAT GALILEAN MINISTRY 

the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, 
to preach deliverance to the captives, and the recov- 
ering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them 
that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of 
the Lord." Then, closing the book. He sat down and 
said: "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your 
ears." And all who heard bore witness to His 
gracious words until He reproached them for not 
accepting Him, when they were full of wrath and, 
leading him out of the city, took Him to the brow 
of a hill that they might throw Him down headlong; 
but, passing through the midst of them. He escaped 
and came to Capernaum. 

II. THE GALILEAN MINISTRY WITH 
CAPERNAUM AS A BASIS 

1. The calling of the fishermen (Matt. 4:18-22; 
Mark 1: 16-20; Luke 5: 1-11). As Jesus was walking 
by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, 
his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were 
fishermen. He said to them : "Follow me, and I will 
make you fishers of men." So, leaving all, they 
followed Him. Going farther. He saw James and 
John, with their father Zebedee, in a boat mending 
their nets. He called them also, and, leaving the 
ship and their father, they, too, followed Him. 

2. The healing of a demoniac (Mark 1:21-28; 
Luke 4:31-37). While Jesus was preaching in the 
synagogue at Capernaum, a man with an unclean 
spirit cried out: "What have we to do with thee, 
thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy 
us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of 
God." Jesus rebuked him, saying: "Hold thy peace, 

395 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



and come out of him." And the unclean spirit, tearing 
the man, obeyed, to the amazement of all the people. 
On account of this miracle the fame of Jesus spread 
throughout all Galilee. 

3. The healing of Peter's mother-in-law and others 
(Matt. 8 : 14-17 ; Mark 1 : 29-34 ; Luke 4 : 38-41). Leav- 
ing the synagogue, Christ and His disciples went 
into the house of Simon, where they found his 
mother-in-law sick of a fever. Taking her by the 
hand, the Lord lifed her up, and the fever departed 
and she ministered unto Him. At evening the people 
brought their sick and those that were possessed of 
devils to Him, and He healed them. 

4. Preaching and healing throughout Galilee 
(Matt. 4:23-25; Mark 1:35-39; Luke 4:42-44). The 
nejxt morning Jesus went out into a desert place, and 
the multitudes followed Him and would have de- 
tained Him, but He said that He must go and preach 
the good tidings of the kingdom to other cities. So, 
leaving Capernaum, He preached in the synagogues 
of Galilee. 

5. The healing of a leper (Matt. 8:2-4; Mark 1: 
40-45; Luke 5:12-16). At one of the cities where 
Jesus preached, a leper came and, kneeling before 
Him, said: "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me 
clean." Jesus, stretching forth His hand, said: "I 
will; be thou clean." And straightway the leprosy 
departed, and, charging the man to tell no one, but 
to go and offer the gift required by the law of 
Moses, the Lord sent him away. But, when the 
man went out, he published his healing abroad, and 
great multitudes flocked to Jesus to hear Him preach 
and to be healed of their infirmities. 



THE GREAT GALILEAN MINISTRY 

6. The healing of a paralytic (Matt. 9:2-8; Mark 
2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26). Jesus now returned to Ca- 
pernaum and, when it was noised abroad that He 
was in the place, great multitudes gathered together 
and He spake the word of the Lord to them. Then 
they brought a man who was sick of the palsy and, 
uncovering the roof, let him down where Jesus was. 
When the Lord saw him, He exclaimed: "Son, be of 
good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." At this 
certain of the scribes murmured, saying: "This man 
blasphemeth." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, 
said: "Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For 
whether is easier, to say. Thy sins be forgiven thee; 
or to say. Arise, and walk? But that ye may know 
that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive 
sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, 
take up thy bed,^ and go unto thine house." And 
the sick man arose and did as he was commanded. 

7. The calling of Matthew (Matt. 9:9-13; Mark 
2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32). As Jesus went by the seat 
of custom He saw Matthew, or Levi, and said: "Fol- 
low me." Matthew arose and followed Him, and 
they went into his house and sat down to eat. The 
Pharisees, observing this, said to His disciples: "He 
eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners." 
Jesus, hearing their complaint, said: "They that are 
whole have no need of a physician, but they that 
are sick." 

8. The discourse on fasting (Matt. 9:14-17; Mark 
2 : 18-22 ; Luke 5 : 33-39) . The disciples of John came 
to Jesus, saying: "Why do we and the Pharisees fast 



^ This bed was nothing but a mat that could be easily rolled up and 
carried away. 

397 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



oft, but thy disciples fast not?" Jesus replied: "Can 
the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as 
the bridegroom is with them? but the days will 
come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from 
them, and then shall they fast." 

9. The raising of Jairus' daughter (Matt. 9 : 18- 
26; Mark 5:22-43; Luke 8:41-56). While Jesus was 
in Capernaum, a ruler of the synagogue, Jairus by 
name, came to Him and said: "My little daughter 
lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and 
lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and 
she shall live." As Jesus went with him, a woman, 
who had an issue of blood for twelve years, touched 
the hem of His garment and was healed. Entering 
Jairus' house, Jesus found the people mourning, for 
the child was dead, but He said to them: "Give 
place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth." At 
this the people laughed Him to scorn, but, taking the 
maid's hand, He said : "Damsel, I say unto thee, 
Arise." And immediately she arose and walked, and 
those that looked on her were greatly astonished. 

10. Two blind men healed (Matt. 9:27-34). As 
Jesus was leaving the home of Jairus, two blind men 
followed Him, crying: "Thou son of David, have 
mercy on us." Jesus said to them: "Believe ye that 
I am able to do this?" And they said: "Yea, Lord." 
Then, touching their eyes. He said : "According to 
your faith be it unto you." And, charging them to 
tell no man, He sent them away. But they spread 
His fame abroad throughout the land, and, as He 
went forth, they brought to Him a dumb man, pos- 
sessed of a devil. When the devil was cast out, the 
multitudes marveled and said : "It was never so seen 

398 



THE GREAT GALILEAN MINISTRY 

in Israel." But the Pharisees said: "By the prince of 
devils casteth he out devils." ^ 

III. CHRIST'S ATTENDANCE AT THE 
FEAST AT JERUSALEM 

1. The healing at the pool of Bethesda (John 5: 
1-47). There was a feast^ of the Jews, probably the 
Passover, and Jesus went to Jerusalem to attend it. 
In that city there was a pool called Bethesda, and 
when Jesus came He found that it was surrounded 
with a great multitude of the sick, lame and blind 
who were waiting for an angel to trouble the waters 
in order that they might step in and be healed. 
Among them was a man who had been afflicted with 
the palsy for thirty-eight years, to whom Jesus said : 
"Wilt thou be made whole?" The man replied: "Sir, 
I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put 
me into the pool: but while I am coming, another 
steppeth down before me." Then Jesus said: "Rise, 
take up thy bed, and walk." And immediately the 
man was made whole. Because Jesus performed this 
miracle on the sabbath the Jev/s sought to kill Him. 

2. The disciples pluck ears of grain upon the 
sabbath (Matt. 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5).' 
As Jesus was going through the cornfields on the 
sabbath day, His disciples were an hungred and, 
plucking the ears of corn,* began to eat. The Phar- 
isees observed this and said to Him : "Behold, why 



^ The sin against the Holy Spirit consists in attributing the works of 
the Lord, which He did by the power of the Spirit, to the power of the 
devil. 

* This feast was probably a Passover. 

' This event probably occurred on His return to Galilee. 

* Probably heads of wheat or barley. 
26 399 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



do they on the sabbath day that which is not law- 
ful?" Jesus answered: "Have ye never read what 
David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, 
he, and they that were with him? How he went into 
the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high 
priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful 
to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them 
which were with him?" And He said further to 
them: "The sabbath was made for man, and not man 
for the sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord 
also of the sabbath." 

3. The healing of the withered hand upon the 
sabbath (Matt. 12:9-14; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11). 
Jesus went into the synagogue on the sabbath and 
found a man there with a withered hand. The scribes 
and Pharisees watched Him to see whether He 
would heal on the sabbath day, and, knowing their 
thoughts. He said to the man: "Rise up, and stand 
forth in the midst." When the man had done this, 
Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees: "Is it lawful 
on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to 
save life, or to destroy it?" And, turning to the man, 
He said: "Stretch forth thy hand." The man did 
as he was commanded, and his hand was restored. 
Jesus' enemies were filled with madness at this 
miracle and sought what they might do to Him. 

IV. THE LATTER PART OF THE GREAT 
GALILEAN MINISTRY 

1. Jesus preaches by the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 
12:15-21; Mark 3:7-12). Jesus and His disciples 
went down to the Sea of Galilee, and a great multi- 
tude from all parts of the country followed Him, so 

400 



THE GREAT GALILEAN MINISTRY 

that it was necessary for Him to enter a little boat 
and push out from the land, where He taught the 
people. 

2. The choosing of the twelve (Mark 3:13-19; 
Luke 6: 12-16). After this He went into a mountain, 
and, when His disciples followed Him, He chose 
twelve to be with Him and whom He might send out 
to preach and to have authority to cast out devils. 
The names of the twelve, as given by Mark, are: 
Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, 
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thad- 
dseus, Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot.^ 

3. The Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7; Luke 
6:17-49). Seeing the multitude, Jesus went again 
into the mountain, where He delivered His celebrated 
Sermon on the Mount to His disciples. This sermon 
fills the place in the present dispensation that the 
Ten Commandments filled in the dispensation of the 
law. 

4. The healing of the centurion's servant (Matt. 
8:1, 5-13; Luke 7:1-10). As the Lord entered into 
Capernaum a certain centurion^ met Him who told 
Him that his servant lay grievously sick of the 
palsy. Jesus offered to go and heal him, but the 
centurion objected and said: "Lord, I am not worthy 
that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak 
the word only, and my servant shall be healed." At 
this Jesus said to those who followed Him : "Verily 
I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, 

* The names of the apostles are given in Matthew 10, Mark 3, Luke 6 
and Acts 1. It was common at that time for men to have more than one 
name, hence the seeming discrepancy in this respect which appears among 
these lists. 

2 A centurion was a commander of one hundred men. 
401 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



not in Israel." He then said to the centurion: "Go 
thy way; and as thou hast beheved, so be it done 
unto thee." And his servant was healed that very 
hour. 

5. The raising of the widow's son (Luke 7: 11-17). 
The day following, Jesus went into the city of Nain, 
and as He came near to the gate, a dead man was 
being carried out, the only son of a widow. When 
Jesus saw the mother, He said to her, ''Weep not," 
and, touching the bier. He said to the dead: "Young 
man, I say unto thee. Arise." And at His command, 
the young man sat up and began to speak and was 
delivered to his mother. 

6. The message from John the Baptist (Matt. 11: 
2-30; Luke 7:18-35). John, who was in prison, 
heard of the works of Jesus and sent his disciples 
to Him, inquiring: "Art thou he that should come? 
or look we for another?" The Lord answered: "Go 
your way, and tell John what things ye have seen 
and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, 
the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are 
raised, to the poor the gospel is preached." When 
the disciples of John had gone their way, Jesus 
declared that "among those that are born of women 
there is not a greater prophet than John the Bap- 
tist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is 
greater than he." 

7. The anointing of Jesus' feet by a vv'oman that 
is a sinner (Luke 7:36-50)/ One of the Pharisees 
invited Jesus to dine with him, and, as He sat at 
meat, a woman of the place who was a sinner came 



* This anointing in Galilee must be kept distinct from the anointing in 
Bethany one year later at the house of Simon the leper. 

402 



THE GREAT GALILEAN MINISTRY 

in, and, weeping, wet His feet with her tears and 
wiped them with the hair of her head, after which 
she kissed them and anointed them with ointment. 
Now, when the Pharisee saw what the woman did, 
he said to himself: "This man, if he were a prophet, 
would have known who and what manner of woman 
this is that toucheth him : for she is a sinner." Jesus, 
perceiving his thoughts, replied to him in the parable 
of the debtors and, turning to the woman, said, *'Thy 
sins are forgiven," and, "Thy faith hath saved thee; 
go in peace." 

8. The lakeside parables (Matt. 13:1-53; Mark 
4:1-34; Luke 8:4-15). Jesus went down by the 
sea, and, as the multitudes pressed Him, He went 
into a ship and, sitting down, taught them in par- 
ables. These parables were the following: The 
Sower, the Wheat and the Tares, the Mustard Seed, 
the Leaven in the Meal, the Hidden Treasure, the 
Pearl of Great Price and the Drag-net. 

9. The stilling of the tempest (Matt. 8: 18, 23-27; 
Mark 4 : 35-41 ; Luke 8 : 22-25). After delivering these 
parables to the multitude, Jesus said to His disciples: 
"Let us pass over unto the other side." So, sending 
the people away, they launched forth. As they sailed. 
He fell asleep and a great storm arose. In great 
fear His disciples came and awoke Him, saying: 
"Master, master, we perish." Then Jesus arose, 
rebuked the wind, the storm ceased and there was a 
great calm. 

10. The healing of the Gadarene demoniacs (Matt. 
8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39). When Jesus 
and His disciples came to the other side of the sea, 
in the country of Gadara, there met them two men 

403 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



possessed with demons, who dwelt among the tombs 
and who were so fierce that no man could pass that 
way. Jesus rebuked the demons and they went into 
a herd of swine, which ran violently down a steep 
place and perished in the sea. 

11. The second rejection at Nazareth (Matt. 9:1; 
13 : 54-58 ; Mark 5 : 21 ; 6 : 1-6 ; Luke 8 : 40) . After this, 
Jesus returned to Galilee and went into His own city, 
Nazareth. Going into the synagogue on the sabbath 
day. He taught the people and many were astonished, 
saying: "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his 
mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and 
Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are 
they not all with us?" But He could not do many 
mighty works because of their unbelief and so de- 
parted, saying: "A prophet is not without honour, 
save in his own country." 

12. Preaching throughout Galilee (Matt. 9:35-38; 
Mark 6:6). Leaving Nazareth, Jesus went about all 
the cities and villages, teaching in the synagogues, 
preaching that the kingdom of heaven was at hand 
and healing all manner of diseases. But, when He 
saw the multitude, scattered as sheep without a 
shepherd. He had compassion on them and said to 
His disciples: "The harvest truly is plenteous, but 
the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord 
of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into 
his harvest." 

13. The twelve sent out (Matt. 10:1-42; Mark 6: 
7-13; Luke 9:1-6). Then Jesus called to Him His 
twelve disciples, and, giving them authority over 
unclean spirits and to heal all manner of diseases, He 
sent them forth, saying: "Go not into the way of the 

404 



THE GREAT GALILEAN MINISTRY 

Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter 
ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house 
of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying. The kingdom 
of heaven is at hand." The disciples departed and 
did as they were commanded. 

14. Herod Antipas supposes Christ to be John 
the Baptist resurrected (Matt. 14:1, 2; Mark 6:14, 
15; Luke 9:7-9). When Herod the tetrarch heard 
what Jesus did, he said: "This is John the Baptist; 
he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty 
works do shew forth themselves in him." But others 
said that He was Elijah, while still others declared 
that He was one of the prophets. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the date of the great Galilean ministry. Give a descrip- 
tion of Galilee. Give the order of events during this period. 
What was the general subject of Christ's teaching in Galilee? 
Tell about the healing of the nobleman's son. Give the circum- 
stances of His first rejection at Nazareth. To what city did He 
go? What fishermen did he call by the seaside? Did Jesus con- 
fine Himself to Capernaum in His ministrations? Name five 
miracles that He performed at Capernaum during the time that 
He made that city the basis of His ministry in Galilee. What was 
the occupation of Matthew, or Levi? Why did not Christ's dis- 
ciples fast? Where did Jesus go to attend a certain feast? 
Give the name of a pool in that place and tell about the miracle 
performed there. How did Jesus excuse His disciples for 
plucking grain upon the sabbath ? Near what sea did Jesus often 
preach? Where did Christ choose twelve special disciples and 
what were their names? To whom was the celebrated Sermon 
on the Mount delivered? What does it take the place of under 
the New Covenant? Tell about the healing of the centurion's 
servant. At what city did He raise a widow's son? What mes- 
sage did Christ receive from John the Baptist? Tell about the 
anointing of Jesus at the house of a Pharisee. Name the lakeside 

405 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



parables. Tell about the stilling of the tempest. In what country- 
did Christ drive the demons out of two demoniacs and what 
became of them? Tell about the second rejection at Nazareth. 
In what condition did Christ find the people of Galilee? What 
authority did He give to the twelve when He sent them out? 
Whom did Herod Antipas suppose Him to be, and why? 



406 



STUDY XXXIV. THE PERIOD OF RETIRE- 
MENT 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The date. This period covers six months, 
probably from spring to autumn, A. D. 29 (or 28). 
It is called the "Period of Opposition." 

2. The reason of Christ's retirement from Galilee. 
Christ evidently withdrew from Galilee out of fear 
of Herod Antipas, who had slain John the Baptist. 
Notice that he largely keeps out of the territory of 
Herod, which includes GaHlee and Perea, and spends 
the greater part of this period in the tetrarchate of 
Philip, which was Bashan. Philip was a better man 
than Herod, and also had no occasion to fear the 
popularity of Jesus. 

3. The order of events. During this period we 
find our Lord making four withdrawals from, and 
as many returns to, Galilee. First, we find him 
withdrawing across the Sea of Galilee, where He 
feeds the five thousand. Secondly, He goes into the 
region of Tyre and Sidon, where He heals the daugh- 
ter of the Syro-Phoenician woman. Next, He goes 
into Decapolis, where a number of important events 
take place. And, lastly, He goes into Bashan, after 
which He returns to Galilee and, later, goes to 
Jerusalem, where he attends the Feast of the Taber- 
nacles. 

407 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



I. THE RETIREMENT ACROSS THE SEA 
OF GALILEE 

L The return of the twelve (Mark 6:30, 31; 
Luke 9:10). The apostles that Jesus had sent out 
now returned and told Him all the things which 
they had both taught and done. 

2. The feeding of the five thousand (Matt. 14: 13- 
21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14). 
Immediately following the return of the twelve, Jesus 
went with them into a desert place beyond the Sea 
of Galilee which belonged to the city of Bethsaida. 
But the multitude followed Him there, and at 
evening His disciples urged Him to send them away, 
but He said to them : "Give ye them to eat." His 
disciples replied: "We have no more but five loaves 
and two fishes; except we should go and buy 
meat for all this people." Hearing this, Jesus 
made the multitude to sit down, and, taking the 
loaves and fishes, blessed them and distributed them 
to the people. After they had eaten and were filled, 
there were taken up twelve basket fuls of the frag- 
ments. 

3. Jesus walks on the water (Matt. 14:22-36; 
Mark 6:45-56; John 6:15-21). When the five thou- 
sand had been fed, Jesus constrained His disciples 
to enter a ship and cross the sea to Bethsaida. 
This they attempted to do, but when the ship was 
in the midst of the sea, a great storm arose and, in 
the fourth watch, Jesus came walking upon the 
water. The disciples were greatly troubled when 
they observed Him, supposing that it was a spirit, 
but He said to them: "Be of good cheer; it is I; be 

408 



THE PERIOD OF RETIREMENT 



not afraid." Peter then attempted to go to Him, 
but his faith failed him and he sank, crying: "Lord, 
save me." Immediately Jesus stretched forth His 
hand and caught him and said: "O thou of little 
faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" The wind ceased 
when they reached the ship. 

4. Jesus teaches in the synagogue at Capernaum 
(John 6:22-71). The next day, the multitude, seeing 
that Jesus did not enter the ship with His disciples, 
entered boats themselves and came to Capernaum, 
seeking Him. When they had found Him, they 
asked: "Rabbi, when camest thou hither?" Jesus 
replied: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, 
not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did 
eat of the loaves, and were filled." He then delivered 
to them His celebrated sermon on the Bread of Life, 
saying : "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but 
for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life." 

5. Jesus is reproached by emissaries from Jeru- 
salem for disregarding tradition (Matt. 15:1-20; 
Mark 7:1-23; John 7:1). Certain Pharisees and 
scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, complaining 
that His disciples transgressed the traditions of the 
elders by eating bread with unwashed hands. Jesus 
answered by accusing them of hypocrisy and declar- 
ing that they had made the law of God void by 
their traditions. After this occurrence. His disciples 
came and told Him that the Pharisees were offended 
at what He had said. The Lord replied: "Every 
plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, 
shall be rooted .up. Let them alone : they be blind 
leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, 
both shall fall into the ditch." 

409 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



II. THE RETIREMENT INTO THE REGION 

OF TYRE AND SIDON 

1. The healing of the daughter of the Syro-Phoe- 
nician woman (Matt. 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30). Jesus 
now withdrew into the territory of Tyre and Sidon, 
and a Canaanitish woman came to Him and cried: 
''Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my 
daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." His 
disciples urged Him to send her away, but He 
answered them : "I am not sent but unto the lost 
sheep of the house of Israel." The woman was 
importunate and came and worshiped Him, saying: 
"Lord, help me." Jesus answered her: "It is not 
meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to 
dogs." The woman replied: "Truth, Lord: yet the 
dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' 
table." At this, Jesus was moved with compassion 
toward her and said: "O woman, great is thy faith: 
be it unto thee even as thou wilt." And her daughter 
was healed that very hour. 

III. THE RETIREMENT INTO DECAPOLIS 

1. Jesus heals the multitude (Matt. 15:29-31; 
Mark 7:31-37). Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee 
again, and, going through the country of Decapolis, 
He healed many that were lame, blind, dumb and 
maimed, so that the multitude wondered and glorified 
God. 

2. Jesus feeds the four thousand (Matt. 15:32-38; 
Mark 8:1-9). Jesus called to Him His disciples and 
told them that He had compassion on the multitude 
because they had continued with Him for three 

410 



THE PERIOD OF RETIREMENT 



days without food, and that He would not send them 
away hungry, lest they should faint by the way. His 
disciples in astonishment replied: "Whence should 
we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill 
so great a multitude?" Jesus asked how many 
loaves they had, and they answered: "Seven, and a 
few small fishes." He then commanded the multi- 
tude to sit down, and, taking the loaves and fishes, 
He broke them and gave them to His disciples and 
they to the multitude, who ate and were filled. When 
the hunger of all had been satisfied, there were 
taken up seven basketfuls of fragments. 

3. Jesus returns to Galilee and warns His dis- 
ciples against the doctrines of the Pharisees and 
Sadducees (Matt. 15:39-16: 12; Mark 8: 10-21). Jesus 
and His disciples now crossed the sea and came into 
the vicinity of Magdala and Dalmanutha, where cer- 
tain Pharisees and Sadducees came to Him and 
demanded a sign from heaven. Jesus replied by say- 
ing: "A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh 
after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto 
it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas." When His 
disciples came to Him, He said to them : "Take heed 
and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Saddu- 
cees." At first the disciples thought that He referred 
to literal bread, but when He had explained Himself, 
they understood that He meant the teachings of the 
Pharisees and Sadducees. 

IV. THE RETIREMENT INTO BASHAN 

1. Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 
8:22-26). Jesus and His disciples now came to 
Bethsaida. Here a blind man was brought to Him 

411 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



to be healed. When He had spit on his eyes and 
had laid His hands upon him, He asked him if he 
saw anything. The man rephed: "I see men; for I 
behold them as trees, walking." Then Jesus again 
laid His hands upon his eyes and his eyesight was 
fully restored. 

2. Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi (Matt. 
16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21). Leaving 
Bethsaida, Jesus and His disciples went into the 
vicinity of Caesarea Philippi. Here he asked those 
who were with Him, whom men said that He was. 
They replied that some said that He was John the 
Baptist; others, Elias, and still others, one of the 
prophets. Then Jesus said to them: "But whom say 
ye that I am?" Peter answered: "Thou art the 
Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied: 
"Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and 
blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father 
which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That 
thou art Peter, and upon this rock^ I will build my 
church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against 
it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the king- 
dom of heaven : and whatsoever thou shalt bind on 



^ This rock is not Peter, but Christ, as is proved by the gender of the 
original Greek word for "Peter" and that for "rock." This is brought out 
in the following literal translation: "And I say also unto thee, That thou 
art a he-vock, and upon this j^^-rock I will build my church; and the gates 
of hell shall not prevail against it." St. Augustine, the father of Christian 
theology, says: "The Church does not fall, because it is founded on the 
rock from which Peter received his name. For the rock is not called after 
Peter, but Peter is so called after the rock: just as Christ is not so denomi- 
nated after the Christian, but the Christian after Christ; for it is on this 
account our Lord declares, 'On this rock I will build my church,* because 
Peter had said: 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.' On this 
rock which thou hast confessed, he declares, 'I will build my church;' for 
Christ was the rock on whose foundation Peter himself was built." 

412 



THE PERIOD OF RETIREMENT 



earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou 
shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Then 
He charged His disciples that they should tell no 
man that He was the Christ. 

3. Jesus foretells His death and resurrection 
(Matt. 16:21-28; Mark 8:31-38; 9:1; Luke 9:22- 
27). From this time Jesus began to teach His dis- 
ciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many- 
things at the hands of the officials, be killed and be 
raised up the third day. At this Peter began to 
rebuke Him, saying that these things should never 
come upon Him. But Jesus, turning to him, said: 
"Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not 
the things that be of God, but those that be of men." 
The Lord then proceeded to give the test of disciple- 
ship, and ended by saying that there were some 
standing there who should not taste of death till 
they saw Him coming in His kingdom. 

4. The transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-13; Mark 9: 
2-13; Luke 9:28-36). More than six days after this, 
Jesus took Peter, James and John and went into 
a high mountain, probably Hermon, where He was 
transfigured before them. There appeared with Him 
two men, Moses and Elias, talking with Him, and a 
voice out of heaven said : "This is my beloved Son, 
in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." The dis- 
ciples were greatly frightened, but Jesus came and 
touched them and commanded them to tell no man 
the vision until after His resurrection. 

5. The disciples fail to heal a demoniac boy 
(Matt. 17 : 14-20 ; Mark 9 : 14-29 ; Luke 9 : 37-43). Jesus 
and His three disciples, upon their return from the 
mount, found a great multitude of people gathered 

413 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



about the disciples who had been left behind. When 
the Lord asked the cause of the gathering, one of the 
multitude came to Him and said that he had brought 
his demoniac son to Him and that the disciples had 
not been able to heal him. Jesus said to him: "All 
things are possible to him that believeth.'' At which 
the man cried out: "I beHeve; help thou mine unbe- 
lief." Jesus then rebuked the spirit and it came out 
of the child. The disciples inquired why they had 
not been able to cast the spirit out, and He replied: 
"This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer 
and fasting." 

6. Jesus returns to Galilee and again foretells His 
death and resurrection (Matt. 17:22, 23; Mark 9:30- 
32; Luke 9:43-45). Jesus now left the territory of 
Philip and re-entered Galilee secretly, telling His 
disciples again of His approaching death. 

7. Jesus pays the half-shekel for the Temple 
(Matt. 17:24-27). Jesus and His disciples came to 
Capernaum, and those who collected funds for the 
Temple came to Peter and asked him if his Master 
did not pay His half-shekel. Peter answered in the 
affirmative, and Jesus told him to go to the sea, cast 
in a hook and that the first fish he should catch 
would have in its mouth a shekel, which he was to 
turn over to the collectors for himself and his Lord. 

8. The contention of the twelve as to who should 
be greatest in the kingdom (Matt. 18 : 1-14 ; Mark 
9:33-50; Luke 9:46-50). While Jesus and His dis- 
ciples were at Capernaum, there arose a contention 
among them as to who should be greatest in the 
kingdom. Jesus, taking a little child, set him by 
His side and said : "Whosoever shall receive this 

414 



THE PERIOD OF RETIREMENT 



child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall 
receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that 
is least among you. all, the same shall be great." 

9. The right treatment of a sinning brother (Matt. 
18:15-35). After this occurrence, Jesus taught His 
disciples that if a brother sinned against one of them, 
he was to go and tell him his fault privately; and, if 
he would not hear him, he was to take with him one 
or two more; and if he would not hear them, he was 
to tell it to the church; and if he refused to hear the 
church, he was to become unto him as a Gentile and 
a publican. Then Peter came to Him and asked: 
"Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and 
I forgive him? till seven times?" And Jesus 
answered : "Until seventy times seven." As illus- 
trative of this teaching, our Lord spoke the parable 
of the Unmerciful Debtor. 

10. The sacrifices that the followers of Christ 
must make (Matt. 8:19-22; Luke 9:57-62). One of 
the scribes came to Jesus and said : "Master, I will 
follow thee whithersoever thou goest." Jesus replied : 
"The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have 
nests ; but the Son of man hath not where to lay 
his head." 

11. Jesus' unbelieving brethren urge Him to go 
into Judea (John 7:2-9). The Feast of Tabernacles 
was near at hand, and the brethren of Jesus who 
did not believe on Him urged Him to go into Judea 
that He might prove His claims to the world. But 
Jesus refused to do this, telling them that His time 
had not yet come. 

12. Jesus goes to Jerusalem secretly through 
Sam-aria (Luke 9:51-56; John 7:10). But, after His 

27 415 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



brethren had departed for the feast, Jesus also went, 
not publicly, but secretly, through Samaria. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the general outline of this study. In what year did the 
events of this study probably occur? What is this period some- 
times called? Why did Jesus retire so often from Galilee? 
Contrast the characters of Herod and Philip. Tell about the re- 
turn of the twelve. Give the miracle of the feeding of the five 
thousand. Give the account of Christ walking on the water. 
What reason did Jesus assign for the multitude following Him? 
Of what did certain Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem accuse 
Him? Tell about the healing of the Syro-phoenician girl. 
Give the miracle of the feeding of the four thousand and con- 
trast it with the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. 
What term did Christ apply to the doctrines of the Pharisees and 
Sadducees? Describe the healing of the blind man at Bethsaida. 
Tell about Peter's confession at Csesarea Philippi. Did Jesus 
foreknow His suffering, death and resurrection? Tell about 
the controversy that He had with Peter over these things. In 
what mountain was Christ transfigured before his disciples? 
Give the account. What had the disciples, who had been left be- 
hind, failed to do? Did Jesus pay His Temple tax? How did 
He do it? Over what did the twelve contend and how did Jesus 
settle the contention? How did Christ say we should treat an 
offending brother? How many times should we forgive him? 
Where did Christ's brethren urge Him to go? Did they believe 
in His claims? 



416 



STUDY XXXV. THE CLOSING OF CHRIST'S 
MINISTRY 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The date. This period in the life of our Lord 
lay, probably, between the autumn of 29 and the 
spring of 30 A. D., or it may have been a year earlier. 

2. The order of events. This study opens with 
Jesus at Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles. 
After this He preaches in that city and its vicinity, 
and performs a number of miracles. He next crosses 
the Jordan into Perea, but soon returns again to the 
regions west of the Jordan. Later, He goes again 
into Perea, after which He turns his face finally in 
the direction of Jerusalem. 

I. CERTAIN EVENTS AT JERUSALEM AND 
IN ITS VICINITY 

1. Jesus attends the Feast of Tabernacles (John 
7:11-53). Leaving Galilee, Jesus came to Jerusalem 
to attend the Feast of Tabernacles, and taught in 
the Temple to the amazement of the Jews. On the 
last great day of the feast, He cried: "If any man 
thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that 
believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of 
his belly shall flow rivers of living waters." This 
caused a division among the people, some saying that 
He was a prophet; others, that He was the Christ. 
When the officers went to the chief priests and 

417 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Pharisees, the latter inquired why they had not 
brought Him, and they repHed: "Never man spake 
as this man." 

2. An adulteress is brought before Jesus* (John 
8:1-11). Jesus went out and spent the night in the 
Mount of Olives, but in the morning returned into 
the city, when an adulterous woman was brought 
before Him. Her persecutors said : "Master, this 
woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now 
Moses in the law commanded us, that such should 
be stoned : but what sayest thou ?" Jesus, stooping 
down, wrote upon the ground and said : "He that 
is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone 
at her." At these words, the woman's accusers 
went out, one by one, after which Jesus dismissed 
the woman by saying: "Go, and sin no more." 

3. Jesus declares His divine Sonship and pre- 
existence (John 8:12-59). Jesus now spake again 
to the people, declaring that He was the light of the 
world and that He existed before Abraham. The 
latter assertion greatly angered the Jews and they 
took up stones to stone Him. 

4. Jesus heals a man born blind (John 9:1-41). 
As Jesus and His disciples passed by. He saw a man 
who had been blind from his birth. His disciples 
asked Him if the blindness of this man was due to 
his own sin or to that of his. parents. The Lord 
replied : "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his 
parents : but that the works of God should be made 
manifest in him." And, saying this, He spat on the 



* This account is probably not a part of the inspired record. It is 
doubtless a true story of our Lord that has come down from early times, 
probably drawn from the collection of Papias, about 140 A. D. 

418 



THE CLOSING OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY 

ground, and, making clay of the spittle, anointed the 
eyes of the blind man, and commanded him to go 
and wash in the pool of Siloam." Which, having 
done, he received his sight. 

5. The parables of the Sheepfold (John 10:1-21). 
After this miracle, Jesus spoke two parables on the 
sheepfold, in one of which He declared Himself to 
be the Good Shepherd, and in the other, the Door of 
the sheep. 

6. The mission of the seventy (Luke 10:1-24). 
Jesus appointed seventy of His disciples, as He had 
appointed the twelve, and sent them out, two and 
two, into the surrounding country to preach the 
gospel and heal the sick. When the seventy re- 
turned, they said: "Even the devils are subject unto 
us through thy name." 

7. The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 
25-37). A certain lawyer came to Jesus and tempted 
Him, saying: ''Master, what shall I do to inherit 
eternal life?" Jesus answered: "What is written in 
the law? how readest thou?" The lawyer replied: 
**Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy 
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy 
strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour 
as thyself." Then Jesus said: "Thou hast answered 
right: this do, and thou shalt live." But the lawyer, 
anxious to justify himself, inquired: "And who is 
my neighbour?" To which Jesus replied by speaking 
the parable of the Good Samaritan. 

8. Jesus visits Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38- 



* A pool in Jerusalem which is S3 feet long, 18 feet broad and 19 feet 
deep, though it is never filled, the water passing through it at a depth of 
three or four feet. A descent of steps leads to the water. 

419 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



42). Jesus came to Bethany, where lived Martha 
and Mary. When He had been received into their 
house, Mary sat at His feet and listened to His 
words, but Martha was burdened with the serving. 
Coming to the Lord, she inquired: "Lord, dost thou 
not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? 
bid her therefore that she help me." Jesus answered: 
''Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about 
many things : but one thing is needful : and Mary 
hath chosen that good part, which shall not be 
taken away from her." 

9. Jesus teaches His disciples to pray (Luke 11: 
1-13). As Jesus was praying in a certain place, His 
disciples came to Him with the request: "Lord, 
teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." 
Jesus then taught them what is commonly called 
the Lord's Prayer. As further illustrative of the 
principle and power of prayer, the Lord spoke His 
parables of the Importunate Friend and Fatherhood. 

10. Jesus is accused of being in league with 
Beelzebub (Luke 11:14-36). Jesus cast out a dumb 
devil and the people wondered, some saying that it 
was by Beelzebub that He cast out devils, while 
others demanded a sign from heaven. The Lord 
replied : "And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by 
whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall 
they be your judges. But if I with the finger of 
God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God 
is come upon you." 

11. Jesus breakfasts with a Pharisee (Luke 11: 
37-54). While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee re- 
quested that He should dine with him. He accepted 
the invitation, but sat down with unwashed hands. 

420 



THE CLOSING OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY 

The Pharisee marveled at this, and our Lord said: 
**Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the 
cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of 
ravening and v^^ickedness." For these and other 
words which He spake, the scribes and Pharisees 
sought to provoke Him that He might say something 
by which He might be convicted. 

12. Jesus preaches to His disciples on various 
subjects (Luke 12:1-59). During this discussion, a 
great multitude gathered together, and, turning to 
His disciples, Jesus warned them of the doctrine of 
the Pharisees and spoke the parables of the Rich 
Fool, the Watchful Servant and the Wise Steward. 

13. Jesus heals on the sabbath — Parables of the 
Mustard Seed and Leaven (Luke 13:10-21). As 
Jesus was teaching upon the sabbath in the syna- 
gogue, a woman, who had been afflicted with an 
infirmity for eighteen years, came before Him, to 
whom Jesus said, ^'Woman, thou art loosed from 
thine infirmity," and, having laid His hands upon 
her. He healed her. The ruler of the synagogue 
was very indignant at this and exclaimed: "There 
are six days in which men ought to work : in them 
therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath 
day." Jesus replied : "Thou hypocrite, doth not each 
one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass 
from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And 
ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, 
whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be 
loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" When 
He had said these words, His adversaries were all 
confounded and the people rejoiced. 

14. Jesus retires into Perea (John 10:22-42). The 

421 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Jews now sought to take Jesus, but He escaped out 
of their hands and went into Perea beyond Jordan, 
where John at first baptized, and there He abode. 

II. CHRIST'S FIRST MINISTRY IN PEREA 

1. Teachings in Perea (Luke 13:22-35). Jesus 
went on His way through the cities and villages, 
teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. As He 
went, a certain man said unto Him : "Lord, are there 
few that be saved?" Jesus answered: "Strive to 
enter in at the strait gate : for many, I say unto you, 
will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." The 
same day, certain of the Pharisees came to Him, 
saying: "Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod 
will kill thee." Jesus said to them: "Behold, I cast 
out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and 
the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I 
must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day 
following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out 
of Jerusalem." 

2. Jesus heals on the sabbath and speaks the 
parables of the Ambitious Guest and the Great Sup- 
per (Luke 14:1-24). Jesus went into the house of 
one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread upon the 
sabbath, and a certain man came before Him who 
was afflicted with the dropsy. Turning to the lawyers 
and Pharisees, Jesus asked: "Is it lawful to heal on 
the sabbath day?" But they made no answer and He 
healed the man. Following this miracle, our Lord 
spoke the parables of the Ambitious Guest and the 
Great Supper. 

3. The five great Perean parables (Luke 15:1- 
16:31). The five great parables which Jesus spoke 

422 



THE CLOSING OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY 

at this time are called the Lost Sheep, the Lost 
Coin, the Lost Son, the Unrighteous Steward and the 
Rich Man and Lazarus. The first three were directed 
against the scribes and Pharisees, who had said: 
''This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." 
The fourth was delivered to His disciples, and the, 
fifth, again, to the Pharisees. 

III. CHRIST RETURNS TO THE COUNTRY 
WEST OF THE JORDAN 

L The raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-46). While 
Jesus was in Perea, Lazarus, the brother of Martha 
and Mary of Bethany, was taken ill and his sisters 
sent to Him, saying: "Lord, behold, he whom thou 
lovest is sick." After two days, against the advice 
of His disciples, Jesus returned to Bethany, to find 
that Lazarus was dead. As He neared the place, 
Martha ran to meet Him and said: ''Lord, if thou 
hadst been here, my brother had not died." Jesus 
said to her: "Thy brother shall rise again." Martha 
replied: "I know that he shall rise again in the 
resurrection at the last day." Then Jesus said to 
her: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that 
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he 
live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall 
never die." When Jesus saw Mary and her friends 
weeping. He also wept, and, groaning within Him- 
self, went to the grave. After the stone had been 
removed, He cried with a loud voice : "Lazarus, come 
forth." And he that was dead came forth, bound in 
his grave-clothes, and, at the command of Jesus, was 
unbound and was permitted to go. 

2. Jesus escapes to Ephraim (John 1 1 : 47-57) . 

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THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Many of the Jews believed on Jesus because of the 
things which He did. When this was told the Phar- 
isees, they, with Caiaphas the high priest, laid a plot 
to kill Him, and He fled to the city of Ephraim, 
between Jerusalem and Jericho, 

3. Jesus discourses on His second coming (Luke 
17:11-37). As Jesus was passing through Samaria 
and Galilee, on His way to Jerusalem, He was met in 
a certain village by ten lepers, who cried: "J^sus, 
Master, have mercy on us." Jesus cleansed them 
and commanded them to go and show themselves to 
the priests. Only one of the ten returned to thank 
Him, and he was a Samaritan. The Pharisees de- 
manded that He tell them when the kingdom of 
God should come. He replied: "The kingdom of God 
cometh not with observation : neither shall they 
say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom 
of God is within you." He then spoke of His second 
coming, likening it to the coming of the flood and 
the coming of the destruction upon Sodom. 

4. The parables of the Unjust Judge and the 
Pharisee and Publican (Luke 18:1-14). The Lord 
now spoke the parables of the Unjust Judge and the 
Pharisee and Publican. 

IV. CHRIST'S SECOND MINISTRY IN PEREA 

1. Teachings concerning divorce (Matt. 19:1-12; 
Mark 10:1-12). The Pharisees tempted Jesus with 
the question : "Is it lawful for a man to put away 
his wife for every cause?" Jesus answered this 
question by saying that in the beginning God made 
them male and female, because of which a man 
should cleave to his wife and the two should be 

424 



THE CLOSING OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY 

one flesh. He further declared that Moses suffered 
them to put away their wives because of the hard- 
ness of their hearts, while He also declared that for 
only one sin was this permissible. 

2. Jesus blesses little children (Matt. 19:13-15; 
Mark 10: 13-16; Luke 18: 15-17). There were brought 
unto Jesus little children that He might touch them, 
but His disciples rebuked Him, and He said: "Suffer 
little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: 
for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 

3. The rich young ruler (Matt. 19:16-20:16; 
Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30). A certain young 
ruler came to Jesus and inquired what he should do 
to inherit eternal life. Christ answered that he 
should keep the commandments. He replied that 
all these he had kept from his youth up. Then 
Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give to 
the poor. At these words, the young man went away 
sorrowful, for he was very rich. 

4. Jesus again foretells His death and resurrection 
(Matt. 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34). 
Jesus and His disciples now started back to Jeru- 
salem, and on the way he taught them, saying: "Be- 
hold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man 
shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto 
the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 
and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to 
scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he 
shall rise again." 

5. The selfish ambition of the sons of Zebedee 
rebuked (Matt. 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45). The 
mother of James and John, with her sons, came to 
Jesus and requested that they might sit, the one 

425 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



on His right hand and the other on His left, in His 
kingdom. Jesus asked them if they were able to 
drink the cup that He was to drink and to be bap- 
tized with the baptism with which He was to be 
baptized. They replied that they were. Then Jesus 
answered that this was indeed true, but to sit on 
His right hand and His left was not His to 
give, but that it would be given to those for whom 
it was prepared by His Father. 

V. CHRIST'S FINAL RETURN TO JUDEA 

1. Blind Bartimasus receives his sight (Matt. 20: 
29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18: 35-43). When 
Jesus and His disciples came to Jericho on their 
return to Jerusalem, they met two blind men sitting 
by the wayside begging, who cried out : "Have mercy 
on us, O Lord, thou son of David." Jesus asked what 
they desired of Him, and they replied that He should 
open their eyes. Moved with compassion, He 
touched their eyes and they received their sight. 
The name of one of these blind men was Bartimseus. 

2. Jesus visits Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-27). As 
Jesus was passing through Jericho, Zacchseus, a rich 
publican who was small of stature, climbed into a 
sycamore tree that he might see Him. When the 
Lord saw Zacchseus, He said : "Zacchseus, make 
haste, and come down ; for to day I must abide at 
thy house." Zacchasus, coming down, received Him 
joyfully and said : "Behold, Lord, the half of my 
goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any 
thing from any man by false accusation, I restore 
him fourfold." To which Jesus replied : "This day 
is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also 

426 



THE CLOSING OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY 

is a son of Abraham." He then spoke the parable 
of the Pounds. 

3. Jesus comes to Bethany (John 11:55-12:1; 
12:9-11). The Lord now came to Bethany, where 
He spent the sabbath with Lazarus and his sisters. 
Because many of the Jews believed on Jesus through 
Lazarus, the chief priests sought to put him to 
death. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the general outline of this study. When did the events 
of this study probably occur? At the opening of this period, what 
feast did Jesus attend, and where? What different opinions did 
the people have of Jesus? What kind of a woman was brought 
before Jesus and what did He say to her accusers and herself? 
Before whom did Jesus say that He existed? Tell about the 
healing of the man bom blind. Give, in substance, the two 
parables of the Sheepfold. How many disciples did Jesus send 
out at this time, and what for? What did they say when they 
returned ? How did Jesus come to speak the parable of the Good 
Samaritan? Whom did Jesus visit at Bethany and what oc- 
curred? What prayer did Jesus teach His disciples to pray? 
With whom was Jesus accused of being in league? How did He 
answer the accusation? What occurred when Jesus ate with un- 
washed hands at the house of a prominent Pharisee? Of whose 
doctrines did Jesus warn His disciples? Into what country did 
Jesus retire? What warning did the Pharisees give Jesus in 
Perea? Name the five great Perean parables and tell to whom 
they were spoken. Tell about the raising of Lazarus. To what 
place did Jesus escape after the raising of Lazarus? To what 
did Jesus compare His second coming? What did Jesus teach 
concerning divorce? Tell about Him blessing little children. 
Tell about the rich young ruler coming to Jesus. What did 
Jesus say concerning His approaching death and resurrection? 
How did Jesus answer the selfish request of the two sons of 
Zebedee? What man was healed of blindness at Jericho? Give 
the circumstances. What rich publican did Jesus meet at Jericho 
and what occurred? Where did Jesus go from Jericho? 

427 



STUDY XXXVI. THE LAST WEEK 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The date. The events of this study probably 
occurred in the spring of A. D. 30, or they may have 
occurred in the spring of A. D. 29. 

2. The place. Jerusalem and its environs. The 
Mount of Olives lay just east of the city proper. 
Calvary lay just north. Bethany was a town or 
village lying about two miles southeast. And Geth- 
semane was a garden just over the brook Kidron 
and at the foot of the Mount of Olives. 

3. Crucifixion. Crucifixion was the most degra- 
ding, inhuman and painful of all the ancient forms of 
punishment. It was practiced by the Romans in the 
case of slaves and such as were guilty of rebellion 
or highway robbery. Though the agony was most 
excruciating, the victim sometimes lived for many 
hours. 

I. SUNDAY— THE DAY OF TRIUMPH 

1. The triumphal entry (Matt. 21:1-9; Mark 11: 
1-10; Luke 19:35-38; John 12:12-19). The day 
following the visit at Bethany, the Lord rode into 
Jerusalem upon the colt of an ass, and the people, 
who had assembled to keep the Passover, went 
forth to meet Him, waving palm branches and 
crying: "Hosanna : Blessed is the King of Israel 
that Cometh in the name of the Lord." This popu- 

428 



THE LAST WEEK 



larity raised the jealousy of the Pharisees, and they 
said: "Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, 
the world is gone after him." 

II. MONDAY— THE DAY OF AUTHORITY 

1. The cursing of the fig-tree (Matt. 21:18, 19; 
Mark 11:12-14). On the morrow, as Jesus and the 
twelve were coming from Bethany, He was hungry, 
and, seeing a fig-tree, He came to it, but found no 
fruit. He then cursed it and said : "No man eat fruit of 
thee hereafter for ever." And His disciples heard it. 

2. The second cleansing of the Temple (Matt. 21 : 
12, 13; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-48). After He 
had entered the city, Jesus went into the Temple 
and again cast out those who bought and sold, and 
overturned the tables of the money-changers, saying: 
"It is written. My house shall be called the house of 
prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." 

3. The Gentiles seek Jesus (John 12:20-50). There 
were certain Greeks in the city who had come to 
worship at the feast. These came to Philip of 
Bethsaida, saying: "Sir, we would see Jesus." Philip 
and Andrew then came and told Jesus, who replied: 
"The hour is come, that the Son of man should be 
glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you. Except a 
corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth 
alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." 

III. TUESDAY— THE DAY OF CONTRO- 

VERSY 

1. The lesson from the withered fig-tree (Matt. 
21:19-22; Mark 11:19-25; Luke 21:37, 38). The 
same evening, Jesus and His disciples passed out of 

429 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



the city, but the following morning re-entered it. 
As they passed by the fig-tree which the Lord had 
cursed, they observed that it was dried up from the 
roots. Peter called Jesus' attention to this, saying: 
"Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is 
withered away." The Master replied : "Have faith 
in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever 
shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and 
be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his 
heart, but shall believe that those things which he 
saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever 
he saith." 

2. Christ's authority questioned (Matt. 21:23-27; 
Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8). The chief priests 
and elders now came to Jesus and asked: "By what 
authority doest thou these things? and who gave 
thee this authority?" Jesus answered them by ask- 
ing: "The baptism of John, whence was it? from 
heaven, or of men?" Then they reasoned among 
themselves that if they said from heaven, he would 
say, "Why did ye not then believe him?" and if they 
said, "Of men," the people would oppose them be- 
cause they believed that John was a prophet; so 
they replied : "We cannot tell." To which Jesus 
said : "Neither tell I you by what authority I do 
these things." 

3. The three warning parables (Matt. 21:28-22: 
14; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-16). At this time the 
Lord spoke three warning parables: the parable of 
the Two Sons, the parable of the Vineyard and the 
parable of the Marriage Feast. 

4. The three hostile questions and the question 
of Jesus (Matt. 22:15-46; Mark 12:13-40; Luke 20: 

430 



THE LAST WEEK 



19-47). The following hostile questions were now 
asked of Jesus : 

(1) The question of the Pharisees and Herodians. 
The Pharisees took counsel how they might entangle 
Him and so sent their disciples, with the Herodians, 
to ask Plim : 'Ts it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, 
or not?" Jesus answered: ''Render therefore unto 
Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and unto God 
the things that are God's." 

(2) The question of the Sadducees. The same day 
the Sadducees came to Him with the question : 
"There were v/ith us seven brethren : and the first, 
when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having 
no issue, left his wife unto his brother: likeAvise the 
second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And 
last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the 
resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? 
for they all had her." Jesus replied: "Ye do err, not 
knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For 
in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given 
in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." 

(3) The question of the Pharisees. When the 
Pharisees heard that the Sadducees had been put 
to silence, they gathered together, and one of them, 
a lawyer, asked : "Master, which is the great com- 
mandment in the law?" The Lord answered: "Thou 
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and 
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is 
the first and great commandment. And the second 
is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy- 
self. On these two commandments hang all the law 
and the prophets." 

(4) The question of Jesus. The Lord now turned 

28 431 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



upon His questioners and asked: "What think ye of 
Christ? whose son is he?" They repHed: "The son 
of David." Then Jesus said: "How then doth David 
in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto 
my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine 
enemies thy footstool? If David then called him 
Lord, how is he his son?" At this question, they 
were all confounded. 

5. Jesus discourses against the scribes and Phar- 
isees (Matt. 23:1-39; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45- 
47). Jesus then discoursed to the multitude and 
His disciples against the scribes and Pharisees, con- 
demning their hypocrisy and pride and pronouncing 
a woe upon them. He closed His discourse with His 
memorable lament over Jerusalem : "O Jerusalem, 
Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest 
them which are sent unto thee, how often would I 
have gathered thy children together, even as a hen 
gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye 
would not! Behold, your house is left unto you 
desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me 
henceforth, till ye shall say. Blessed is he that cometh 
in the name of the Lord." 

6. The widow's two mites (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 
21:1-4). As Jesus looked up, He saw the people 
casting their money into the treasury. Among them 
was a certain poor widow who threw in two mites, 
which were all that she had. Jesus said to His 
disciples : "Verily I say unto you, That this poor 
widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast 
into the treasury: for all they did cast in of their 
abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that 
she had, even all her living." 

432 



THE LAST WEEK 



7. Christ's great prophecy (Matt. 24:1-51; Mark 
13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36). As Jesus was going out 
of the Temple, He said to His disciples: "Verily I 
say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone 
upon another, that shall not be thrown down." He 
then went with His disciples into the Mount of 
Olives, where He delivered to them His last and 
greatest prophecy. In this prophecy He predicted 
that false Christs and false prophets should arise, 
that wars should come, that scourges should sweep 
over the earth, that persecutions should fall upon 
His followers, that the Jews should be led away 
captive into all nations, that the world should be 
evangelized, that certain physical signs should pre- 
cede His second advent, and that, following all these 
things, He should come to judge the world. 

8. The three great Olivet parables (Matt. 25 : 1- 
46). As illustrative of His second coming and 
attendant events, the Lord spoke three parables on 
the Mount of Olives, as follows: The Ten Virgins, 
the Absent Nobleman and the Sheep and Goats. 

9. The conspiracy against Jesus (Matt. 26:1-5; 
Mark 14: 1, 2; Luke 22: 1, 2). The chief priests and 
scribes now sought how they might kill Jesus, but 
they said : "Not during the feast, lest a tumult arise 
among the people." 

IV. WEDNESDAY— THE DAY OF RETIRE- 
MENT 

1. Mary anoints Jesus at Bethany (Matt. 26:6-13; 
Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-8).' Jesus now went to 



^ John would seem to place this event before the opening of the Passion 
Week; the Synoptics, Matthew and Mark, give it as we have it here. 

433 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Bethany, where they made a feast for Him at the 
house of Simon the leper. At this feast Mary took 
a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and, 
anointing the Saviour's feet, wiped them with her 
hair; and the house was filled with the perfume of 
the ointment. Judas Iscariot complained of this and 
said: "Why was this waste of the ointment made? 
For it might have been sold for more than three 
hundred pence,' and have been given to the poor." 
But Jesus said: "Let her alone; why trouble ye 
her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For 
ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever 
ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not 
always. She hath done what she could: she is come 
aforehand to anoint my body to the burying." 

2. Judas offers to betray Jesus (Matt. 26:14-16; 
Mark 14:10, 11; Luke 22:3-6). Judas was greatly 
offended at this, and, Satan entering his heart, he 
went to the chief priests and captains and offered 
to betray Jesus into their hands. For this they 
were glad and covenanted with him for thirty pieces 
of silver. 

V. THURSDAY— THE DAY OF FELLOW- 
SHIP 

1. Preparation for the Passover (Matt. 26:17-19; 
Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13). On the first day 
of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus 
inquiring where they should go that they might make 
ready to eat the Passover. Jesus sent Peter and 
John into the city, telling them that they should 
meet a man bearing a pitcher of water, that they 

* Between nine and ten pounds sterling. 
434 



THE LAST WEEK 



should follow him, and that they should say to the 
man of the house which they should enter: ''The 
Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, 
where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?" 
The man of the house was then to show them a large 
upper room, where they were to make ready. The 
two disciples departed and made ready for the feast. 

2. The strife among the disciples (Luke 22: 14-16, 
24-30). When the hour was come, Jesus sat down 
with His disciples to eat the Passover, and there 
arose a contention among them as to who was to be 
accounted the greatest. Jesus settled the controversy 
by saying: "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lord- 
ship over them ; and they that exercise authority 
upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not 
be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him 
be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that 
doth serve." 

3. Jesus washes His disciples* feet (John 13: 1-20). 
During supper, Jesus arose, and, laying aside His 
garments, took a towel and girded Himself, and pro- 
ceeded to wash His disciples' feet. When He came 
to Peter, that disciple objected, saying: "Thou shalt 
never wash my feet." To which Jesus replied: "If 
I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." Then 
Peter answered: "Lord, not my feet only, but also 
my hands and my head." The Lord then said: "If I 
then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; 
ye also ought to wash one another's feet." * 



^ This was not an ordinance to be perpetuated, but a simple custom 
practiced by the people of that day, and enjoined by our Lord upon the 
apostles, and the apostles alone. There is no record that it was ever ob- 
served as an ordinance under the new covenant. 

435 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



4. Jesus foretells His betrayal by Judas (Matt. 
26:21-25; Mark 14:18-21; Luke 22:21-23; John 13: 
21-35). As Jesus and His disciples were eating, the 
Lord said: "Verily I say unto you, that one of you 
shall betray me." At these words they were all 
sorrowful, and each asked: "Lord, is it I?" Jesus 
answered : "He that dippeth his hand with me in the 
dish, the same shall betray me." Then Judas inquired : 
"Master, is it I?" And the Lord said unto him: 
"Thou hast said." 

5. Jesus foretells His denial by Peter (Matt. 26: 
31-35; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-38; John 13:36- 
38). The Lord declared further that all of His dis- 
ciples should be offended because of Him that night. 
But Peter objected, saying: "Though all men shall 
be offended because of thee, yet will I never be 
offended." Jesus replied: '^Verily I say unto thee, 
That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt 
deny me thrice." 

6. Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper (Matt. 26: 
26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20). As they 
were eating, Jesus instituted the memorial of His 
death by taking bread and breaking it, saying, "Take, 
eat; this is my body," and also by taking the cup, 
saying: "Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of 
the new testament, which is shed for many for the 
remission of sins." ^ 



^ The ordinance of the Lord's Supper must be divorced from those 
superstitions that have been grafted on it by the Roman Catholic Church. 
The bread and wine are not the very flesh and blood of the Lord, but are 
simple emblems of the same. The demand that we take the statements, 
"This is my body" and "This is my blood," literally, is absurd from the 
fact that Christ's body had not yet been broken nor his blood shed. Our 
Lord is not present at the communion service, but absent, as will be 
seen from 1 Cor. 1 1 : 26. 

436 



THE LAST WEEK 



7. Christ *s farewell discourse to His disciples 

(John 14-17). Following the instituting of the Lord's 
Supper, Jesus delivered to His disciples His farewell 
discourse, in which He told them that He was going 
to prepare a place for them, but that He would come 
again, and promised them another Comforter who 
was to abide with them for the age and who was to 
teach them all things, bring all things to their 
remembrance whatsoever He had said to them, and 
to guide them into all truth/ 

VI. FRIDAY— THE DAY OF SUFFERING 

1. The agony in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-46; 
Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 18:1). When 
the feast was ended and Jesus and His disciples had 
sung a hymn, they went out and came to the garden 
of Gethsemane, which lay at the foot of the Mount 
of Olives. Leaving His disciples, excepting Peter, 
James and John, whom He took with Him, the 
Lord went a short distance away to pray. But He 
began to be exceedingly sorrowful, and so, leaving, 
the three. He went still farther, where He fell upon 
His face and prayed : "O my Father, if it be possible, 
let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as 
I will, but as thou wilt." He then returned, and, 
finding His disciples asleep, He said to Peter : "Could 
ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, 
that ye enter not into temptation." Again He went 
away and prayed, and again returned to find His 
disciples asleep. Still yet a third time did He retire 
to pray, but when He returned, He said : "Arise, let 



^ The apostles, and they alone, were guided into all truth. This does 
not apply to the Church in general. 

437 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



us be going: behold, he that betrayeth me is at 
hand." 

2. The betrayal of Jesus (Matt. 26:47-56; Mark 
14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-12). While 
Jesus was yet speaking, Judas appeared with an 
armed force and, kissing the Lord, exclaimed: "Hail, 
Rabbi." The officers of the Jews then seized Him 
and bound Him, but Simon Peter, drawing a sword, 
smote the servant of the high priest and cut off his 
ear. Jesus said to Peter: *Tut up the sword into 
the sheath : the cup which the Father hath given me, 
shall I not drink it?" And touching the servant's 
ear. He healed it. Then all of the disciples left Him 
and fled, and He was led away. 

3. The trial of Jesus (Matt. 26:57-27:32; Mark 
14:53-15:19; Luke 22:54-23:25; John 18:12-19:16). 

(1) Before Annas. Jesus was first led to Annas, 
the father-in-law of Caiaphas and ex-high priest, who, 
after he had examined Him in regard to His teach- 
ings, sent Him bound to Caiaphas. 

(2) Before Caiaphas. Here certain Jews bore 
false witness against Him, saying: "We heard him 
say, I will destroy this temple that is made with 
hands, and in three days I will build another made 
without hands." Then the high priest said to Jesus : 
"Answerest thou nothing?" But He held His peace, 
and the high priest asked again : "Art thou the 
Christ?" To which He said: "I am: and ye shall 
see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of 
power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." The 
high priest, at this, rent his clothes, exclaiming: 
"What need we any further witnesses? Ye have 
heard the blasphemy: what think ye?" They an- 

438 



THE LAST WEEK 



swered : "He is worthy of death." And, spitting upon 
Him and smiting Him, His accusers said: 'Trophesy 
unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that struck thee?" 

(3) Peter's denial. When Jesus was led before 
Caiaphas, Peter followed afar off and, entering the 
court, sat down with the officers at a fire. One of 
the maids of the high priest saw him and accused 
him of being with Jesus, which accusation Peter 
denied three times, cursing and swearing the last 
time. Then the cock crew and the Lord turned and 
looked upon Peter, and he remembered what He had 
said unto him. 

(4) Before the Sanhedrin. When it was day, the 
assembly led Jesus before the Sanhedrin, who, when 
they had examined Him and had decided that He was 
guilty of blasphemy, sent him to Pontius Pilate. 

(5) The suicide of Judas. Judas, when he saw 
that Jesus was condemned, repented and brought the 
thirty pieces of silver and cast them down before the 
chief priests and elders, saying : "I have sinned in 
that I have betrayed innocent blood." But they said : 
"What is that to us? see thou to it." Then Judas 
went out and hanged himself," and the priests took 
the money and with it bought the potter's field to 
bury strangers in. 

(6) Christ's first appearance before Pilate. The 
Jews then brought Jesus before Pontius Pilate and 
demanded that he judge Plim. This Pilate reluctant- 
ly did, but when he had heard His claims to King- 
ship, he went out to the Jews and said: "I find in 
him no fault at all." At this they were much enraged 



1 This information is supplemented, but not necessarily contradicted, by 
Acts 1: 18. 

439 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



and said : "He stirreth up the people, teaching 
throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee 
even unto this place." 

(7) Jesus sent to Herod Antipas. When Pilate 
heard that Jesus was a Galilean, he sent Him to 
Herod, tetrarch of Galilee. Herod was pleased to 
see Jesus, as His fame had already reached him and 
he was desirous of seeing some miracle performed 
by Him. But when he questioned Him, Jesus did 
not answer a word, and, as the chief priests and 
scribes vehemently accused Him, he had Him 
clothed in gorgeous apparel and sent Him back to 
Pilate. 

(8) Christ's second appearance before Pilate, Jesus 
was now a second time brought before Pilate, who, 
when he had questioned Him, went out and declared 
to the Jews that he found no fault in Him. But the 
people cried: "Away with this man, and release unto 
us Barabbas," "Crucify him, crucify him." Then 
Pilate scourged Jesus and, washing his hands, said: 
"I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; 
see ye to it." After which he delivered Him to the 
Jews, who platted a crown of thorns and put it upon 
His head, arrayed Him in a purple garment and 
mocked Him. 

4. The crucifixion of Jesus (Matt. 27:31-56; Mark 
15:20-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:16-30). The 
Jews now led Jesus away to be crucified. On the 
way He stumbled under the weight of the cross 
which He bore, and it was placed upon the shoulder 
of Simon of Gyrene. A multitude of people and of 
the women followed, lamenting, and the Lord, turn- 
ing to them, said: "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep 

440 



f feiE LAST WEEit 



not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your 
children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the 
which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and 
the wombs that never bare, and the paps which 
never gave suck." When the company came to 
Calvary, they crucified Jesus between two thieves, 
one on the right hand and the other on the left, and 
a superscription was placed over His head, which 
read: "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS." 
One of the thieves railed at Him, saying: 'Tf thou 
be Christ, save thyself and us." But the other con- 
demned him and, turning to the Lord, said: "Lord, 
remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." 
To which the Lord replied : "Verily I say unto thee. 
To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." After 
which He said, "Father, into thy hands I commend 
my spirit," and expired. Attending the death of 
Jesus were many notable signs: the rocks were 
rent, the earth quaked, the veil of the Temple was 
rent and the graves were opened, so that many of 
the bodies of the saints which slept, arose after His 
resurrection and appeared to many in the Holy City. 
The centurion in command greatly feared, saying: 
"Truly this was the Son of God." 

5. The entombment (Matt. 27:57-61; Mark 15: 
42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42). When 
evening was come, Joseph of Arimathasa, a just and 
righteous man, and Nicodemus, who had come to 
see Jesus by night, with the permission of Pilate, 
took the body of the Lord down from the cross, 
wound it in a linen cloth with spices, and laid it in 
a tomb hewn out of a rock and in which man had 
never before lain. 

441 



THie mST OP THE BIBLE 



VII. SATURDAY— THE DAY OF REST AND 
SORROW 

1. The watch at the tomb (Matt. 27:62-66). On 
the day following the day of the preparation, the 
chief priests and Pharisees came to Pilate and said: 
"Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he 
was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure 
until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, 
and steal him away, and say unto the people. He is 
risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse 
than the first.'* Pilate replied : **Ye have a watch : go 
your way, make it as sure as you can." So they 
departed and sealed the mouth of the sepulchre and 
set a watch about it. 

2. The resting of the women (Luke 23: 56). After 
the burial of our Lord, the women who were with 
Him, returning, prepared spices and ointments and 
rested the sabbath day according to the command- 
ment. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the probable date of the events of this study. Locate 
the points of interest and importance in this study. What can 
you say of crucifixion as a mode of punishment? From what 
village did Jesus go into Jerusalem upon the day of His triumphal 
entry? What did the people say when He entered the city? 
What three events occurred on Monday, the Day of Authority? 
What events occurred on Tuesday, the Day of Controversy? 
Who questioned Christ's authority and how did He answer them? 
Name the three warning parables. What three classes of people 
tried to entrap Jesus with their questions? Give the question of 
the Herodians. Of the Sadducees. Of the Pharisees. What 
question did Christ propound? Give the lament of Jesus over 
Jerusalem. Tell about the widow's gift. Give the substance of 

442 



THE LAST WEEK 



Christ's last prophecy. Name the three Olivet parables. Who 
conspired against Jesus? Where did Jesus go upon Wednesday, 
the Day of Retirement, and what occurred there? Who offered 
to betray Christ, and how much did he receive? Mention, in 
their order, the events which occurred upon Thursday, the Day 
of Fellowship. Tell about the preparation for the Passover. 
Over what did the disciples contend, and how did Jesus silence 
them? Tell about Jesus washing His disciples' feet. Did Jesus 
foretell the betrayal by Judas and the denial by Peter? Give 
the circumstances in each case. Describe the institution of the 
Lord's Supper. Give the substance of Christ's farewell address 
to His disciples. Give, in their order, the events that occurred 
on Friday, the Day of Suffering. In what garden did Jesus pray? 
Tell about the betrayal of Jesus. Give the successive steps in the 
trial of Jesus. Describe the crucifixion of Christ. Tell about the 
entombment of Jesus. Why was a watch placed over Christ's 
tomb? Upon what day did the women rest, and why? 



443 



STUDY XXXVII. THE RESURRECTION 
DAYS 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The date. Probably in the spring of A. D. 30, 
or in A. D. 29. Jesus was raised on the first day of 
the week, which we now celebrate, not by divine 
precept, but by apostolic example. 

2. The resurrection of Jesus Christ a literal occur- 
rence. The Scriptures plainly teach that it was the 
literal grave body of Jesus that came forth from the 
tomb, and any other explanation of the mystery is 
wholly subversive of divine truth. 

3. The importance of Christ's resurrection. Paul 
says : *'If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching 
vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are 
found false witnesses of God; because we have testi- 
fied of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised 
not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the 
dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ 
be not raised, your faith is vain ; ye are yet in your 
sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in 
Christ are perished" (1 Cor. 15:14-18). 

I. THE EVENTS OF THE RESURRECTION 

DAY 

1. The resurrection of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28: 
2-4). Early in the morning, on the first day of the 
week, there was an earthquake, and an angel of the 

444 



THE RESURRECTION DAYS 



Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone 
from the door of the sepulchre and sat upon it, and 
Jesus Christ arose triumphant from the dead. For 
fear of the angel, the watchers did quake and became 
as dead men. 

2, The angelic announcement of Christ's resur- 
rection (Matt. 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-8; 
John 20:1-10). After the sabbath, but while it was 
yet dark upon the first day of the week, came Mary 
Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and 
Salome, with spices, to anoint the body of Jesus. 
But they found the stone rolled away from the door 
of the sepulchre, and, when they entered, they saw 
a young man, arrayed in a white robe, sitting on the 
right side of the tomb and who said: "Be not 
affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was 
crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the 
place where they laid him. But go your way, tell 
his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into 
Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you." 
Then Mary Magdalene ran and, meeting Peter and 
John, said: "They have taken away the Lord out of 
the sepulchre, and we know not where they have 
laid him." When these disciples had come to the 
place where Jesus had lain, and had stooped down and 
had looked in, but had not found the body of Jesus, 
they returned to their homes. 

3. Jesus appears to the women (Matt. 28:9, 10; 
Mark 16:9-11; Luke 24:9-11; John 20: 11-18). After 
the departure of Peter and John, Mary Magdalene 
was standing by the tomb weeping. Here Jesus ap- 
peared to her, but at first she did not recognize 
Him. When He had revealed Himself, He said: 

445 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



"Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my 
Father : but go to my brethren, and say unto them, 
I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to 
my God, and your God." Jesus also appeared to the 
other women who came and took hold of His feet 
and worshiped Him. Then the women went and 
told the disciples that thev had seen Jesus, but they 
did not believe. 

4. The report of the guard (Matt. 28:11-15). 
Some of the watch went into the city and told the 
chief priests all of the things that had occurred. 
Then the chief priests gave them money and told 
them to report that Jesus' disciples had come by 
night and had stolen Him away. This they did, and 
this was the common report among the Jews at that 
time. 

5. Jesus appears to Cephas and to two disciples 
on the way to Emmaus (1 Cor. 15:5; Mark 16:12, 
13; Luke 24:13-35). Jesus next appeared to Cephas 
and then to two disciples on their way to Emmaus. 
As the two were proceeding on their way, they were 
talking of the things that had recently occurred, when 
Jesus Himself drew near and joined them, but they 
did not recognize Him. He said to them: "What 
manner of communications are these that ye have 
one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?" They 
replied by telling Him of the crucifixion and of the 
report of the women that He had been raised from 
the dead. Then He said: "O fools, and slow of heart 
to believe all that the prophets have spoken : ought 
not Christ to have suffered these things, and to 
enter into his glory?" They then constrained Him 
to tarry with them, and while at meat He revealed 

446 



THE RESURRECTION DAYS 



Himself and vanished out of their sight, after which 
they returned to Jerusalem and told the eleven and 
them that were with them that they had seen the 
Christ. 

6. Jesus appears to the disciples, excepting 
Thomas (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19- 
25). In the evening of the first day of the week, 
when the doors were shut because the disciples were 
afraid of the Jews, Jesus appeared to them as they 
sat at meat, saying, ''Peace be unto you." He then 
showed them His hands and His feet, saying, "A 
spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have," 
after which He breathed upon them and said: "Re- 
ceive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye 
remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose 
soever sins ye retain, they are retained." When 
Thomas, who had been absent, returned and heard 
the things that were told him, he refused to believe. 

II. THE EVENTS AFTER THE RESURREC- 
TION DAY 

1. Jesus appears to the disciples, including 
Thomas (John 20:26-31; 1 Cor. 15:5). One week 
after, the disciples, with Thomas, were together 
behind closed doors, and Jesus appeared to them 
and said: "Peace be unto you." He then commanded 
Thomas to feel the nail-prints in His hands and the 
spear-wound in His side, which Thomas did and 
exclaimed: "My Lord and my God." Jesus then 
said to him : "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, 
thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not 
seen, and yet have believed." 

2. Jesus appears to seven disciples beside the Sea 

29 447 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



of Galilee (John 21). Jesus next appeared to seven 
of His disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. They had 
gone fishing, but, though they had fished all night, 
they had caught nothing. In the morning Jesus stood 
upon the shore and said: "Children, have ye any 
meat?" They answered: "No." He then said: "Cast 
the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall 
find." This they did, with the result that they were 
not able to draw it for the multitude of fish. The 
disciples now recognized Jesus, and Peter, drawing 
about him his fisher's coat, leaped into the sea, while 
the other disciples followed him in their boats, draw- 
ing the net with them. When they reached the 
shore, they found a fire of coals and fish laid thereon 
with bread. Jesus said to them: "Bring of the fish 
which ye have now caught." And Simon brought 
one hundred and fifty and three. When they had 
dined, Jesus said to Simon : "Simon, son of Jonas, 
lovest thou me more than these?" Simon replied: 
"Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee." And 
Jesus answered: "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus 
asked the same question, and, when He had received 
the same answer. He replied : "Feed my sheep." Still 
a third time was the same question asked and the 
same answer given. And Jesus replied for the last 
time: "Feed my sheep." 

3. Jesus appears to five hundred and commissions 
His apostles upon a mountain in Galilee (1 Cor. 15: 
6; Matt. 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18). Jesus now ap- 
peared to about five hundred brethren at once, prob- 
ably upon a mountain in Galilee, where He gave the 
Great Commission to His apostles and committed 
to them the power to perform signs and miracles. 

448 



THE RESURRECTION DAYS 



4. Jesus appears to James and then to all of the 
disciples (1 Cor. 15:7; Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:3-8). 
After this Jesus appeared to James and then to all 
of the apostles, demonstrating His resurrection by 
many infallible proofs and teaching them the things 
concerning the kingdom of God. He said: "John 
indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized 
with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." When 
asked if He would at that time restore the kingdom 
to Israel, He replied: "It is not for you to know the 
times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in 
his own power. But ye shall receive power, after 
that the Holy Ghost is come upon you : and ye shall 
be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in 
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part 
of the earth." 

5. The ascension (Mark 16:19, 20; Luke 24: SO- 
BS; Acts 1:9-12). After these things, Jesus led His 
disciples out of Jerusalem toward Bethany, where 
he was parted from them and was received into 
heaven. While they looked, two men, clothed in 
white apparel, stood by them, who said: "Ye men 
of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this 
same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, 
shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him 
go into heaven." The disciples then returned to 
Jerusalem 

QUESTIONS 

In what year did the events of this study probably occur? 
What do the Scriptures teach in regard to the resurrection of 
Jesus? Tell what Paul says about the importance of Christ's 
resurrection. Describe the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Give 
the angelic announcement of the resurrection. To whom did 

449 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Jesus first appear? What explanation did the guard invent of 
the absence of the body of Jesus from the tomb? Tell about the 
appearance of Jesus to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. 
Where did Jesus appear to ten of His disciples on the evening of 
the resurrection day and what did He say to them? What oc- 
curred one week later? Give the circumstances of Christ's 
appearance to the seven disciples at the Sea of Galilee. Where 
was the Great Commission given, and how many brethren are 
supposed to have been there ? Give an account of the last appear- 
ance of Jesus just prior to His ascension. Describe the ascension. 



450 



STUDY XXXVIII. THE BEGINNINGS OF 
THE CHURCH 

(Acts 1:12-12:25) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The meaning of the term "church.*' The term 
"church" is translated from the Greek ecclesia, which 
means "an assembly of people, convoked by public 
proclamation." 

2. The change of dispensation. The death of 
Jesus Christ upon the cross marked the ending of 
the Mosaic and the beginning of the Christian dis- 
pensation. The change that occurred involved the 
abrogation of the Mosaic law, the annulment of the 
covenant with Israel as a nation and the offer of 
salvation to the Gentiles upon the same terms that 
it was offered to the Jews. This is made plain from 
2 Cor. 3:6-18; Eph. 2:14-18; Col. 2:14-17; Heb. 9: 
14, 15, and other Scriptures. 

3. The mission and work of the Holy Spirit. Our 
Lord declared that the mission of the Holy Spirit 
was to "reprove the world of sin, and of righteous- 
ness, and of judgment" (John 16:8). Before the day 
of Pentecost the Holy Spirit manifested Himself 
only occasionally and to a certain class (Heb. 1:1; 
2 Pet. 1:21), but at Pentecost He came to all flesh 
(Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:16, 17) and to abide unto 
the end of the age. At Pentecost, and through the 

451 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



apostolical period, He manifested Himself supernat- 
urally, in prophecies, tongues and supernatural 
knowledge, but, these special spiritual gifts ceasing 
when the purpose for which they were designed had 
been fulfilled (1 Cor. 13:8-13), He has operated since 
in the various functions of His office only and wholly 
through the Word (John 6:63; 17:17; Rom. 1:16; 
Heb. 4:12; Jas. 1:18, etc.). 

4. The period covered. The period covered in the 
present study extended from the ascension of our 
Lord, about 30 A. D., to the first missionary journey 
of the apostle Paul, about 48 A. D. 

I. THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM 

1. The ten days* waiting (Acts 1:12-14). After 
the ascension the disciples returned to Jerusalem, 
where they abode in an upper chamber and where 
they continued with one accord in prayer and suppli- 
cation with the women, and Mary the mother of 
Jesus, and His brethren. 

2. The choosing of Matthew (Acts 1:15-26). At 
this time Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, 
of whom there were 120, and declared that one of 
their number should be selected to take the place in 
the apostleship which Judas Iscariot had lost by 
transgression. They then selected two, Joseph called 
Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias; 
and when they had prayed, they cast their lots, and 
Matthias was chosen. 

3. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2 : 1- 
13). When the day of Pentecost was fully come, the 
disciples were all with one accord in one place. 
Suddenly there came a sound as of a mighty rushing 

452 



THE BEGINNINGS OF THE CHURCH 

wind which filled all the house where they were 
sitting/ Cloven tongues of fire also sat upon each, 
and they spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave 
them utterance. There were dwelling in Jerusalem 
devout Jews out of many nations, who were greatly 
amazed at what they saw and heard, some inquiring 
what these things meant, others mocking, saying that 
the disciples were filled with new wine. 

4. Peter's first discourse (Acts 2:14-41). But 
Peter, with the eleven, stood up and declared that 
the things which were occurring were but the fulfill- 
ment of the prophecy of Joel, and, further, that Jesus 
of Nazareth was the Christ, the seed of David, whom 
God had raised up to sit on His throne. At these 
words the multitude were convicted and cried out : 
**Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter 
replied: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you 
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, 
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." 
Then those that gladly received the word were bap- 
tized, and there were added unto the disciples about 
three thousand souls.^ 

5. The first church (Acts 2:42-47). These con- 
tinued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and 
fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers. 
They also sold their possessions and divided with 

1 Their baptism with the Holy Spirit did not consist in the pouring out 
of the same upon them, but in their submersion in it when it "filled all the 
house where they were sitting." 

2 It has been offered as an objection to immersion that the three thou- 
sand could not have been immersed in one day, hence that they must have 
been baptized by some other "mode." The fallacy of this argument will be 
seen at once when it is discovered that there were ample means for such 
immersion in the great number of pools in Jerusalem and within its vicinity, 
and an ample force to perform the rite in the 120 disciples who were present 
in that city upon this particular day of Pentecost. 

453 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



one another. Many wonders and signs were per- 
formed by the apostles, and the Lord added daily 
to the church such as were being saved/ 

6. The first apostolic miracle (Acts 3:1-11). 
Peter and John went into the Temple at the ninth 
hour, which was the hour of prayer. There they 
found, lying at the Beautiful Gate, a man who was 
lame from his birth and who asked alms of them. 
Peter, looking upon him, said: "Silver and gold 
have I none ; but such as I have give I thee : In 
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and 
walk.^' And the man, with Peter's help, arose and 
walked and went into the Temple, leaping and prais- 
ing God. 

7. Peter's second discourse (Acts 3:12-26). This 
miracle excited the wonder of the people and they 
gathered around Peter, who again declared unto 
them that Jesus whom they slew was the very Christ 
and that He had been raised from the dead, and 
further demanded that they repent and turn that 
their sins might be blotted out, so that times of 
refreshing might come from the presence of the 
Lord, and He might send Jesus the second time to 
consummate the restitution of all things. 

8. The first persecution (Acts 4:1-22). When 
the Sadducees learned that the apostles were preach- 
ing the resurrection, they were much displeased, and 
arrested them, and put them in prison until the 
following day. On the morrow they were brought 
before the Sanhedrin, who asked : ''By what power, 



^ Pentecost marks the beginning of the Christian Church. Everything 
that was done prior to this time was merely preparatory to that grand event 
in which were accomplished the promises of God. 

454 



THE BEGINNINGS OF THE CHURCH 

or by what name, have ye done this?" Then Peter, 
filled with the Holy Ghost, declared that it was 
through the power of the risen Christ that the lame 
man was enabled to walk, and, further, that Jesus 
was the stone whom the builders had rejected and 
that it was through His name, and His name alone, 
that salvation could be obtained. When the Sanhe- 
drin perceived that Peter and John were unlearned 
and ignorant men, they marveled, and, charging them 
that they should no more preach in the name of 
Jesus, let them go. 

9. The second filling with the Holy Spirit (Acts 
4:23-37). Peter and John now returned to their 
own company and reported what the chief priests 
and elders had said to them. When the disciples 
heard them, they raised their voices in praise to 
God, and the place was shaken, and they were all 
filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of 
the Lord with boldness. The multitude of them that 
believed were of one heart and of one soul, and 
brought their possessions and laid them at the feet 
of the apostles, who distributed them to those who 
were in need.^ 

10. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5 : 1- 
16). But there was a certain man named Ananias 
who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold a possession, but 
kept back part of the price and only brought a 
portion to lay at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said 
to Ananias : "Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine 



^ Some have argued from this that Christian communism should be 
practiced to-day. But this was only a temporary arrangement for that par- 
ticular day and tim.e, and was not practiced afterwards, as is shown by the 
teachings of the remainder of the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles. In 
none of the later New Testament writings does such a practice appear. 

455 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



heart to lie to the Holy Ghost/ and to keep back 
part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, 
was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was 
it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived 
this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto 
men, but unto God/' At these words Ananias fell 
down dead, and the young men wound him up, 
carried him out and buried him. About three hours 
afterwards Sapphira came in, and, when she had 
confessed the sin, she, too, fell down dead and was 
buried by the side of her husband. Because of this 
judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira, fear came 
upon all the church, and by the hands of the apostles 
many signs and wonders were wrought among the 
people, and many who were afflicted were healed of 
their diseases. 

11. The second persecution (Acts 5: 17-42). Indig- 
nant at the popularity of the apostles with the 
people, the high priests and the Sadducees arrested 
them and put them in the common prison. But, in 
the night, the angel of the Lord opened the prison 
doors and said : "Go, stand and speak in the temple 
to the people all the words of this life." On the 
morrow, when the officers discovered that their 
prisoners had escaped, they went in search of them, 
and, finding them in the Temple, brought them 
again before the council, who inquired : "Did not 
we straitly command you that ye should not teach 
in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem 
with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's 
blood upon us." Then Peter and the other apostles 



1 As the Holy Sipirit can be lied to, it is evident that He is a person- 
ality, and not simply an influence. 

456 



THE BEGINNINGS OF THE CHURCH 

answered that they ought to obey God rather than 
man, and declared again the resurrection and exalta- 
tion of Jesus Christ. When the council had heard 
these words, Gamaliel, a Pharisee and doctor of the 
law, urged caution in dealing with the apostles, 
saying that if what they did was through the counsel 
of men, it could be overthrown, but if it was of 
God, it could not be overthrown. So, calling the 
apostles, the council beat them and let them go, 
admonishing them to cease speaking in the name 
of Jesus. The apostles departed, rejoicing that they 
were worthy to suffer shame for Christ, but refrained 
not from preaching Him in the Temple and in every 
house. 

12. The first deacons (Acts 6:1-7). The number 
of the disciples increased, and the Greeks complained 
against the Hebrews because their widows were 
neglected in the daily ministrations. Then the 
twelve called the church together and commanded 
them to look out from among them seven men of 
good report and full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom 
who should be given charge over this matter. Those 
chosen were Stephen, a man full of faith and the 
Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, 
Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch. These 
they set before the apostles, who, when they had 
prayed, laid their hands upon them. 

13. The arrest and stoning of Stephen (Acts 6: 
8-7:60). Stephen was a man of faith and power 
and did great wonders and miracles among the 
people, by which he stirred up the enmity of certain 
opponents of the Christian faith. These had him 
arrested, and, when he was brought before the coun- 

457 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



cil, they charged that he had declared that Jesus 
would destroy that place and would change the 
customs which Moses had delivered to the people. 
When Stephen was permitted to speak for himself, 
he declared how God had delivered the fathers and 
ended by scathingly denouncing his persecutors for 
the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Enraged at his bold- 
ness, they took Stephen out of the city and, laying 
their clothes at the feet of a young man whose name 
was Saul, stoned him to death. 

II. THE CHURCH OUTSIDE OF JERUSALEM 

1. The scattering of the church (Acts 8: 1-4). By 
the persecution which followed the stoning of 
Stephen the church at Jerusalem was scattered abroad 
throughout Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 
And they that were scattered abroad went every- 
where preaching the word. 

2. The conversion of the Samaritans (Acts 8 : 5- 
25). Philip, one of the seven deacons, went down 
to Samaria, where he preached Christ unto the 
people and performed many miracles. As a result, 
many, both men and women, believed and were bap- 
tized, among them Simon the sorcerer. Now, when 
the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had 
received the word, they sent unto them Peter and 
John, who, when they were come, prayed for them 
and laid their hands upon them that they might 
receive the Holy Spirit, for as yet He had fallen upon 
none of them. Simon, seeing that the Holy Spirit 
was given by the laying on of hands, offered the 
apostles money for the power, but Peter condemned 
him, saying: "Thy money perish with thee, because 

458 



THE BEGINNINGS OF THE CHURCH 

thou hast thought that the gift of God may be pur- 
chased with money." When Simon saw that he had 
sinned against God in his request, he besought the 
apostles to pray that none of the things of which 
they had spoken might come upon him. After the 
apostles had testified and preached the word of the 
Lord, they returned to Jerusalem. 

3. The conversion of the eunuch (Acts 8:26-40). 
Being commanded by an angel, Philip went toward 
the south on the road that led from Jerusalem to 
Gaza, where he met a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch 
of great authority under Candace, queen of that 
country. This man had been at Jerusalem to wor- 
ship, and, as he was returning in his chariot, he 
was reading Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit said to 
Philip : "Go near, and join thyself to this chariot." 
Philip did as he was directed, and asked: ''Under- 
standest thou what thou readest?" The eunuch 
answered: "How can I, except some man should 
guide me?" Then Philip began and taught unto 
him Jesus, and, as they went on their way, they came 
to a certain water and the eunuch said: "See, here is 
water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Philip 
answered: "If thou believest with all thine heart, 
thou mayest." And he said: "I believe that Jesus 
Christ is the Son of God." Then Philip took him 
down into the water and baptized him,^ and he went 
on his way rejoicing. 

4. The conversion o£ Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9 : 1- 
19). The next event of importance in the history of 
the church was the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. 



^ The going down into the water of both Philip and the eunuch was 
wholly unnecessary unless baptism is immersion. 

459 



^^ 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



5. The healing of ^neas (Acts 9:32-35). Peter 
went down to the saints who dwelt at Lydda and 
found there a man named ^neas, who had been sick 
of the palsy for eight years. To him Peter said: 
"Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make 
thy bed." And immediately he arose, and all that 
dwelt at Lydda and Saron were converted to the 
faith. 

6. Tabitha raised from the dead (Acts 9:36-43). 
There was dwelling at Joppa a certain disciple 
named Tabitha (also called Dorcas), a woman of 
good works, and she died. As Lydda was near to 
Joppa, the disciples sent two men to Peter, request- 
ing him to come to them. When he was come, they 
took him into an upper chamber, where he found the 
widows weeping and showing the garments which 
Tabitha had made. But, putting them out, Peter 
turned to the body and said: ''Tabitha, arise." And 
she opened her eyes and sat up. After this miracle, 
Peter tarried many days with Simon the tanner. 

7. The conversion of Cornelius and his household 
(Acts 10:1-48). There was a certain centurion by 
the name of Cornelius who lived in Caesarea and who 
was a devout man and one who feared God. Corne- 
lius had a vision in which he was commanded to 
send men to Joppa and to call for one Simon Peter, 
who would tell him what he ought to do. On the 
day following, Peter went upon the housetop to 
pray, and, when he hungered, a sheet was let down 
from heaven in which were all manner of four-footed 
beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping 
things and fowls of the air, and a voice from heaven 
said: "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat." But Peter ob- 

460 



THE BEGINNINGS OF THE CHURCH 

jected, saying: "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten 
anything that is common or unclean." To which the 
voice replied: "What God hath cleansed, that call 
not thou common." While Peter doubted as to the 
meaning of this vision, the messengers from Cornelius 
came to him and stated their mission, and he received 
them into the house. On the morrow, he returned 
with them to Csesarea, where he met Cornelius, who 
explained to him his vision. Then Peter preached 
Jesus to him and his house, declaring His Messiah- 
ship and His resurrection. While he was speaking, 
the Holy Spirit fell upon them, and they spoke in 
tongues and magnified God to the astonishment of 
the Jewish believers who were with Peter.^ Then 
Peter said: "Can any man forbid water, that these 
should be baptized, which have received the Holy 
Ghost as well as we?" And he commanded them 
to be baptized in the name of the Lord. 

8. Peter vindicates his ministry to the Gentiles 
(Acts 11:1-18). Following this, Peter returned to 
Jerusalem, and, when the apostles and brethren met 
him, they contended with him because he had eaten 
with the uncircumcised. Then Peter related to them 
his vision and gave an account of the outpouring of 
the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius and his household. 
When they heard these things, they glorified God, 
saying: "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted 
repentance unto life." 

9. The founding of the church at Antioch (Acts 
11:19-30). Some of those who were scattered 



^ The baptism with the Holy Spirit of the household of Cornelius was 
not for a blessing to them, but was an evidentiary sign to Peter and those 
who were with him that God had accepted the Gentiles. 

461 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



abroad in the persecution, which arose at the time 
of the stoning of Stephen, were men of Cyprus and 
Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, 
preached the word to the Greeks of that city. As a 
result, a great number believed and turned to the 
Lord. When this came to the ears of the church 
at Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch, who, 
when he was come, exhorted the disciples that they 
should cleave to the Lord. Then, departing, Barna- 
bas went to Tarsus in search of Saul, whom, having 
found, he brought back to Antioch with him. For 
one whole year they taught the people and assembled 
with the disciples, who were called Christians first 
in that city. In those days certain prophets came 
from Jerusalem to Antioch, among them Agabus, 
who predicted that there should be a famine through- 
out the whole world. This determined the disciples 
to send relief to their brethren in Judea, which they 
did by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. 

10. The arrest and deliverance of Peter (Acts 12: 
1-19). About this time Herod stretched forth his 
hand against the church, slew James, the brother of 
John, with the sword and, because it pleased the 
Jews, had Peter shut up in prison. But prayer was 
made for him without ceasing in the church, and 
the night before Herod would have brought him 
forth, and while he was sleeping between two sol- 
diers, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, com- 
manded him to rise and gird himself, smote the 
chains from ofif his hands and told him to follow 
him. This Peter did, and, after the angel had led 
him through the iron gate which led into the city, 
he departed from Peter. Peter then came to the 

462 



THE BEGINNINGS OF THE CHURCH 

house of Mary, the mother of John, surnamed Mark, 
and knocked at the door. A damsel, named Rhoda, 
came to the door, who, when she heard his voice, did 
not open the door, but, with gladness, ran and told 
those within that Peter stood without. When they 
saw him they were astonished, but, after he had 
declared how the Lord had brought him out of the 
prison, he departed to another place. On the morrow, 
when Herod sought for Peter and he could not be 
found, he commanded that the keepers should be 
put to death. And, leaving Judea, he went to 
Csesarea, where he abode. 

11. The death of Herod (Acts 12:20-25). Herod 
became much displeased with the inhabitants of Tyre 
and Sidon, but, when they came to make peace with 
him, he sat upon his throne and delivered an oration 
to them. At this the people shouted: "It is the 
voice of a god, and not of a man." And an angel 
of the Lord smote him and he was eaten by worms 
and gave up the ghost. But the word of God grew 
and multiplied, and Barnabas and Saul returned 
from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their min- 
istry, bringing with them John, whose surname was 
Mark. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the general outline of this study. What is the meaning 
of the term "church"? Describe the change of dispensations. 
Give the mission and work of the Holy Spirit. How much time 
is covered in this study? How long did the disciples wait at 
Jerusalem before they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit? 
Who was chosen to succeed Judas Iscariot in the apostleship? 
Describe the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pente- 
cost. Give the substance of Peter's first discourse. Give the 
characteristics of the first church. Describe the first apostolic 
30 463 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



miracle. Give the occasion and substance of Peter's second dis- 
course. Tell about the first persecution. Describe the second 
outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Give the sin and fate of Ananias 
and Sapphira. Tell about the second persecution. Give the cir- 
cumstances of the choosing of the first deacons. Tell about the 
arrest and stoning of Stephen. Tell about the scattering of the 
church. Who first preached the word at Samaria ? What apostles 
followed him from Jerusalem? Tell about the conversion of the 
eunuch. What young man was converted about this time? De- 
scribe the conversion of the household of Cornelius. How did 
the disciples at Jerusalem feel toward Peter because of his asso- 
ciations with the Gentiles at Caesarea? Describe the founding of 
the church at Antioch. Give the account of the arrest and 
deliverance of Peter, Tell about the death of Herod. 



464 



STUDY XXXIX. THE LIFE OF PAUL 

(Acts 7:58-28:31) 
INTRODUCTION 

1. The Roman Empire. When Augustus Caesar 
took the throne at the age of thirty-six, the Roman 
Empire comprised one hundred million inhabitants 
and a territory in southern and central Europe, 
western Asia and northern Africa twenty-seven hun- 
dren miles long and with an average breadth of one 
thousand miles. This territory was divided into 
twenty-seven provinces. The following emperors 
reigned after Augustus and until A. D. 70: Tiberius 
(14 A. D.), Caligula (37), Claudius I. (41), Nero 
(54), Galba (68), Otho (69) and Vitellius (69). 

2. The heathen religions. The heathen religions 
with which Paul came in contact were polytheistic. 
Those of Greece and Rome were similar and, in 
some respects, identical. In both countries twelve 
great gods, with a multitude of lesser divinities, were 
worshiped. These gods were the prototypes of man 
with his powers magnified. They were described as 
gigantic of size, swift of foot, strong of body and 
limb, treacherous and deceitful in character, amorous 
in their relations and sometimes violent in their 
passions. Zeus, or Jupiter, who presided in their 
councils, was supposed to have his throne on Mt. 
Olympus. When Rome conquered a people, their 

465 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



divinities were besought to take up their abode 
within the Imperial City and their images were 
placed in the Pantheon. Rome was hostile to Chris- 
tianity only because the faith of Christ was intolerant 
of other faiths. 

3. The conditions conducive to the spread of the 
gospel. 

(1) One great government. This insured peace 
and a facility of travel. 

(2) One great language. This language was a 
simplified form of the Greek and was the language 
of commerce and social intercourse. 

(3) The spread of monotheism. Wherever the 
Jews went, in their spread throughout the civilized 
world after their return from Babylon, they carried 
with them the doctrine of one God. This, with its 
related doctrines, formed a firm foundation upon 
which the apostles could build. 

4. The companions of Paul. On his first mis- 
sionary journey, Paul had, as companions, Barnabas 
and John Mark. On his second, Silas, Timothy, 
Luke and Aquila and Priscilla. And, on his third, 
probably Titus, Luke, Gains, Aristarchus, Secundus, 
Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus. Among those 
who were associated with Paul at Rome were 
Tychicus, Epaphras, Luke and Timothy. 

5. Chronological data. The conversion of Paul 
occurred, probably, in A. D. 36 or 37. His first 
missionary tour occurred in 48 and 49 ; his second 
missionary tour, 51-54; his third, 54-58; his imprison- 
ment at Caesarea, 58-60; his first imprisonment at 
Rome, 61-63 ; his second imprisonment at Rome, prob- 
ably 67 and 68. 

466 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



I. THE BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE OF SAUL 
OF TARSUS 

1. The birth and advantages of Saul of Tarsus 

(Acts 22 : 3 ; Phil. 3:5). Saul, afterwards called Paul, 
was a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, Asia 
Minor, but was brought up in Jerusalem, where he 
was educated at the feet of the great Jewish teacher, 
Gamaliel. By birth he was a Roman citizen and by 
religious training a Pharisee. 

2. Saul the persecutor (Acts 7 : 58-8 : 3) . Saul 
first appeared as a persecutor of the church at the 
time of the stoning of Stephen, when he took charge 
of the clothes of those who took part in the execu- 
tion. Following this, he was active in the arrest of 
the Christians at Jerusalem, casting both men and 
women into prison for their faith. 

3. Saul the convert (Acts 9:1-19). Receiving 
authority from the high priest, Saul went to Damas- 
cus, to which city some of the Christians who had 
been persecuted at Jerusalem had fled, for the pur- 
pose of apprehending those who believed in Christ, 
that he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. When 
he came near to Damascus, he was suddenly con- 
fronted with a bright, heavenly light, and, as he fell 
to the earth, he heard a voice saying to him : "Saul, 
Saul, why persecutest thou me?'' Saul answered: 
"Who art thou, Lord?" And the Lord said: "I am 
Jesus whom thou persecutest : it is hard for thee to 
kick against the pricks." Saul then inquired what 
he should do and was told to go into the city, where 
it should be told him. So, arising, he was led into 
Damascus, for he was blind, where he continued for 

468 



THE LIFE OF PAUL 



three days without food or drink. At the expiration 
of this time, Ananias, one of the disciples in that 
city, by the direction of the Lord came to where 
Saul was, and, putting his hands upon him, said: 
"Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared 
unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, 
that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled 
with the Holy Ghost." And immediately he received 
his sight and w^as baptized, after which he continued 
certain days with the disciples at Damascus. 
4. Saul the Christian. 

(1) At Damascus (Acts 9:20-22). Saul straight- 
way preached Christ in the synagogue, to the amaze- 
ment of the people, and confounded the Jews with 
the proof of His divinity. 

(2) In Arabia (Acts 9:23; Gal. 1:18). The 
*'many days" of Acts are probably the "three years" 
of Galatians, during a part of which time, at least, 
Saul was in Arabia. 

(3) At Jerusalem (Acts 9:24-29). Saul evidently 
returned to Damascus, where the Jews took counsel 
to kill him. But the disciples let him down from 
the wall in a basket and he fled to Jerusalem. Here 
he found the Christians afraid of him until Barnabas 
had declared unto them the fact and circumstances 
of his conversion. 

(4) At Tarsus (Acts 9:30). From Jerusalem, Saul 
went to his old home in Tarsus by way of Csesarea. 

(5) At Antioch and Jerusalem (Acts 11:25-30; 
12:25). After a time Barnabas came to Tarsus 
seeking Saul, and, finding him, returned with him 
to Antioch, where for one whole year they assembled 
with the church and taught the people. During this 

460 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



time there came to Antioch from Jerusalem prophets 
who predicted a great famine in the land during the 
reign of Claudius Caesar. Hearing this, the disciples 
sent relief to their brethren in Judea by the hands 
of Barnabas and Saul. 

(6) The return to Antioch (Acts 12:25). Having 
fulfilled their ministry at Jerusalem, Barnabas and 
Saul returned to Antioch, bringing with them John 
whose surname was Mark. 

II. PAUL'S FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY 

1. Barnabas and Saul commissioned (Acts 13:1- 
3). While Barnabas and Saul tarried at Antioch, the 
Holy Spirit said : "Separate me Barnabas and Saul 
for the work whereunto I have called them." So, 
when the church had fasted and prayed, they laid 
their hands upon them and sent them away. 

2. The opposition of Elymas, the sorcerer, at 
Paphos (Acts 13:3-12). Departing from Antioch, 
the apostles, accompanied by John Mark, went 
through Seleucia and sailed for Cyprus, where, in 
Salamis, they preached the word in the synagogues 
of the Jews. At Paphos, where they also preached 
the word, the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, 
believed. But there was in that place a certain 
sorcerer, Bar-jesus, or Elymas, by name, who sought 
to turn away the deputy from the faith. For his 
opposition Elymas was stricken by Paul, through 
the power of the Holy Spirit, with blindness, that 
he might not see the sun for a season. Then, leaving 
Paphos, the apostles went to Perga in Pamphylia, 
where John Mark left them and returned to Jeru- 
salem. 

470 



THE LIFE OF PAUL 



3. Paul preaches in the synagogue at Antioch of 
Pisidia (Acts 13:13-52). From Perga the apostles 
departed to Antioch of Pisidia. Here Paul, upon 
the sabbath, by the invitation of the ruler of the 
synagogue, preached Christ and His resurrection to 
the Jews, declaring that through Him all that believe 
are justified from all things from which they could 
not be justified by the law of Moses. When, on the 
next sabbath, the multitude came together to hear 
Paul and Barnabas, the Jews were filled with envy 
and spoke against the things which Paul had de- 
clared. Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said: "It 
was necessary that the word of God should first 
have been spoken to you : but seeing ye put it from 
you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting 
life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." At this the Jews 
stirred up the devout women and chief men and 
expelled the apostles out of the city. So, Paul and 
Barnabas, shaking the dust off their feet against 
them, came to Iconium. 

4. Paul and Barnabas at Iconium (Acts 14:1-7). 
At Iconium the apostles preached the gospel in the 
synagogue and performed a number of signs and 
wonders through which many believed. But those 
who did not believe attempted to assault the apostles 
and they fled to Lystra and Derbe. 

5. The healing of an impotent man at Lystra 
(Acts 14:6-18). When Paul and Barnabas came to 
Lystra, they found an impotent man whom Paul 
healed of his infirmity. The people, beholding the 
miracle, cried, "The gods are come down to us in 
the likeness of men," and they called Barnabas, 
Jupiter, and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the 

' ~ 471 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



chief speaker. The priest of Jupiter also brought 
oxen and garlands to the gates and would have 
sacrificed with the people. But, when Paul and 
Barnabas heard it, they rent their clothes and, run- 
ning in among the people, declared that they were 
men of like passions with their would-be worshipers, 
and that they should turn from their vanities unto 
the true God. Yet, even with these explanations, 
could they scarcely restrain the people from sacrific- 
ing unto them. Following this, however, certain 
Jews from Antioch and Iconium coming to Lystra 
and inciting the people, Paul was stoned and was 
drawn out of the city for dead. 

6. The return to Antioch (Acts 14: 20-28). Leav- 
ing Lystra, the apostles went to Derbe, where they 
taught many, following which they returned again 
to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch of Pisidia, confirm- 
ing the disciples and exhorting them to continue in 
the faith. They also ordained elders in every church 
and commended them to the Lord on whom they 
believed. After this they passed through Pisidia 
and Pamphylia and came again to Antioch in Syria, 
where they abode with the disciples a long time. 

7. The council at Jerusalem (Acts 15: 1-35). Cer- 
tain Christian Jews had come down to Antioch from 
Jerusalem, declaring that, unless a man was circum- 
cised according to the law of Moses, he could not 
be saved. After much discussion, Paul and Barnabas, 
with others, were sent to Jerusalem to consult the 
apostles and elders on this matter. Passing through 
Phoenicia and Samaria, where they declared the con- 
version of the Gentiles, the apostles came to Jeru- 
salem. Here they consulted the apostles and elders, 

472 



THE LIIi'E OF PAUL 



and it was decided that no greater burden should be 
laid upon the Gentile converts than that they should 
abstain from meats offered to idols, from blood, from 
things strangled and from fornication. With this 
decision, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch, 
where they read it to the church and where it caused 
rejoicing among those who believed. 

III. PAUL'S SECOND MISSIONARY 
JOURNEY 

1. Paul and Barnabas separate (Acts 15:36-41). 
Some days later, Paul suggested to Barnabas that 
they visit the brethren in the cities where they had 
preached the word. Barnabas was favorable, but 
insisted that they take John Mark, to which Paul 
was opposed, as John had deserted them in Pam- 
phylia. So strong was the contention that the two 
separated, and Barnabas, taking John, sailed for 
Cyprus, while Paul, taking Silas, went through Syria 
and Cilicia, confirming the churches. 

2. Timothy joins Paul and Silas (Acts 16:1-5). 
Coming to Derbe and Lystra, Paul and Silas found 
a certain disciple, Timotheus by name, a man of good 
report among the brethren at Lystra and Iconium. 
The mother of Timotheus was a Jewess, but his 
father was a Greek, because of which, as a matter 
of policy, Paul had him circumcised, after which he 
joined Paul and Silas on their journey. 

3. Paul's Macedonian vision (Acts 16:6-12). Pass- 
ing through Phrygia, Galatia and Mysia, Paul and 
his companions came to Troas, where the apostle 
had a vision in which he saw a man of Macedonia, 
who said: "Come over into Macedonia, and help 

473 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



us." Immediately, Paul, with Silas, Timothy and 
Luke, who joined them here, started for that country. 
Leaving Troas, they passed through Samothracia 
and Neapolis and came to Philippi, one of the chief 
cities of Macedonia. 

4. Paul and Silas at Philippi. 

(1) The conversion of Lydia (Acts 16:13-15). On 
the sabbath, Paul and his companions went down to 
a river-side, where prayer was wont to be made, and 
spoke to the women who resorted there. Among 
them was Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of 
Thyatira, who believed the things spoken by Paul 
and was baptized with her household. 

(2) The conversion of the jailor (Acts 16: 16-40). 
As they were going to the place of prayer, they were 
met by a certain damsel who was possessed with 
a spirit of divination and who brought her masters 
much gain by soothsaying. Paul cast the evil spirit 
out of her, which so enraged her masters that they 
had him and Silas thrown into prison. But at mid- 
night they prayed and sang praises, and the place 
was shaken with an earthquake and their bands were 
loosed. The keeper, at this, supposing that his 
prisoners had escaped, drew his sword and would 
have killed himself, but Paul cried : "Do thyself no 
harm: for we are all here." And, calling for a light, 
he sprang in where Paul and Silas were and, bringing 
them out, inquired: "Sirs, what must I do to be 
saved?" Paul replied: "Believe on the Lord Jesus 
Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." 
And, when he had spoken the word of the Lord to 
the jailor and his household, they washed his stripes 
and were baptized. On the morrow, when the 

474 



THE LIFE OF PAUL 



magistrates learned that Paul and Silas were Romans, 
they released them and urged them to depart from 
the city. 

5. The founding of the church at Thessalonica 
(Acts 17:1-10). From Philippi, Paul and those who 
were with him came to Thessalonica, passing through 
Amphipolis and ApoUonia. Here there was a syna- 
gogue of the Jews, and Paul, as was his custom, 
reasoned with them for three sabbath days, as a 
result of which some of them, with a multitude of 
devout Greeks and chief women, believed. But the 
Jews, who did not believe, incited a riot, and Paul 
and Silas were sent by the brethren to Berea. 

6. Paul and Silas at Berea (Acts 17: 10-14). Now 
the Bereans were more noble than the Thessalonians, 
and readily received the word and searched the 
Scriptures daily to discover whether the things 
taught by Paul were so. Therefore many, both 
Jews and Greeks, believed. But, when this came 
to the knowledge of the Jews at Thessalonica, they 
came down to Berea and stirred up the people, and 
Paul was immediately sent away by the brethren, 
though Silas and Timothy remained there still. 

7. Paul at Athens (Acts 17:15-34). Paul now 
came to Athens, where his spirit was stirred when 
he saw the idolatry of the city. Therefore, he dis- 
puted with the Jews in their synagogues and with 
certain philosophers of the Epicureans and Stoics 
who brought him to Mars' hill, where they demanded 
that he give them further information concerning 
the doctrine of which he spoke. It was here that 
Paul preached his celebrated discourse on "The 
Unknown God," declaring that He had made of one 

475 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



blood all nations and that He would eventually 
judge the world through Jesus Christ. When Paul 
spoke of the resurrection, some mocked, while others 
believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, and 
a woman named Damaris. 

8. Paul at Corinth. 

(1) The founding of the Corinthian church (Acts 
18: 1-11). At Corinth, to which city Paul came from 
Athens, the apostle found a Jew, Aquila, and his 
wife Priscilla, with whom he abode and followed 
with them the occupation of tentmaking. Here Silas 
and Timothy joined him, and here he reasoned in 
the synagogue every sabbath, persuading both Jew 
and Greek. Among these were Crispus, the chief 
ruler of the synagogue, and his house, who believed 
and were baptized. 

(2) The Jews' fruitless appeal to Gallio (Acts 18: 
12-17). At this time Gallio was the deputy of 
Achaia, and the Jews brought Paul before him. But, 
when Gallio discovered that the charge pertained to 
their law, he drove them from the judgment-seat, 
and the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of 
the synagogue, and beat him. 

9. Paul returns to Antioch (Acts 18: 18-23). After 
continuing in Corinth for one year and six months, 
Paul returned to Antioch through Ephesus and 
Caesarea, bringing with him Aquila and Priscilla. At 
Cenchrea he shaved his head and made a vow. 

IV. PAUL'S THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY 

1. The extent and purpose of Paul's third mis- 
sionary journey (Acts 18 : 23) . After Paul had spent 
some time at Antioch, he departed again and went 

476 



THE LIFE OF PAUL 



over the countries of Galatia and Phrygia, strength- 
ening the disciples. 

2. Apollos at Ephesus (Acts 18:24-28). A certain 
Jew by the name of Apollos, born at Alexandria, who 
was eloquent and learned in the Scriptures, came 
to Ephesus, where he taught diligently the things 
of the Lord. But, as he knew only the baptism of 
John, he was taken by Aquila and Priscilla, who 
expounded to him the way of the Lord more per- 
fectly. And when he left Ephesus to go into Achaia, 
the brethren gave him letters, exhorting the disciples 
to receive him, whom, when he had come, he helped 
much, for he mightily convinced the Jews that Jesus 
was the Christ. 

3. Paul at Ephesus. 

(1) The conversion of certain of John's disciples 
(Acts 19:1-7). While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul 
came to Ephesus and, finding certain disciples, in- 
quired: "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye 
believed?" They replied: "We have not so much 
as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." Then 
Paul said: "Unto what then were ye baptized?" And 
they said: "Unto John's baptism." To which Paul 
answered : "John verily baptized with the baptism of 
repentance, saying unto the people that they should 
believe on him which should come after him, that is, 
on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were 
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and when 
Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost 
came on them, and they spoke with tongues and 
prophesied. In all, there were twelve men. 

(2) Paul disputes with certain opponents (Acts 19: 
8-10). For three months Paul preached in the syna- 

477 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



gogue, but, meeting with opposition, he separated 
the disciples and disputed daily in the school of one 
Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that 
all in Asia, both Jew and Greek, heard the word of 
the Lord. 

(3) Paul performs certain miracles (Acts 19:11- 
22). At Ephesus Paul performed a number of 
miracles, because of which many believed. Certain 
vagabond Jews attempted to imitate these miracles 
through the name of Christ, but failed. At the 
close of his work here, Paul purposed that, after 
he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia and 
had returned to Jerusalem, he would visit Rome. 

(4) The Ephesian silversmiths oppose Paul (Acts 
19:23-41). The silversmiths of Ephesus, who made 
shrines for Diana and other divinities, became en- 
raged at Paul because he had converted the people 
from their idolatry and so had cut down the sale 
of images, and, raising a riot, dragged Gains and 
Aristarchus, two of Paul's companions, into the 
theater. Paul determined to go to their rescue, but 
was prevented by the disciples and certain friends. 
The tumult was finally quieted by the town clerk, 
who advised the people that, if they had a grievance 
against any man, to take the matter to law. 

4. Paul's return trip to Jerusalem. 

(1) Paul goes through Macedonia and Greece (Acts 
20:1-3). After the tumult, Paul embraced the dis- 
ciples and departed for Macedonia, later going into 
Greece, where he abode three months. At the 
expiration of this time, he purposed to sail for Syria, 
but, learning that the Jews were lying in wait for 
him, he determined to return through Macedonia. 

478 



THE LIFE OF PAUL 



(2) The stop at Troas (Acts 20:4-12). After the 
days of unleavened bread, Paul and Luke sailed from 
Philippi, and in five days came to Troas, where they 
found Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timo- 
theus, Tychicus and Trophimus awaiting them. It 
was at Troas that the young man, Eutychus, falling 
asleep while Paul was preaching, fell from the third 
loft and was taken up dead, and Paul brought him 
back to life. 

(3) From Troas to Miletus (Acts 20: 13-16). From 
Troas Paul went by foot to Assos, where he met his 
companions who had come by sea. From Assos the 
company sailed to Mitylene, then to Chios, then to 
Samos, then came to Trogyllium and, finally, to 
Miletus. 

(4) Paul and the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-38). 
From Miletus Paul sent to Ephesus and called to 
him the elders of the church, and, after recounting 
his experiences among them and charging them to 
take heed to the flock over which the Holy Ghost 
had made them overseers, he kneeled down and 
prayed with them all. And they all wept and fell 
on his neck and kissed him, sorrowing for the words 
which he spake and that they should see his face no 
more. 

(5) From Miletus to Tyre (Acts 21:1-6). From 
Miletus Paul and his companions sailed to Coos, 
then to Rhodes, then to Patara, then to Cyprus and, 
finally, to Tyre in Phoenicia. 

(6) From Tyre to Ccesarea (Acts 21:7-14). At 
Tyre Paul found certain disciples, with whom he 
tarried seven days and who declared through the 
Spirit that he should not go to Jerusalem. So, leav- 

31 479 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



ing Tyre, he passed through Ptolemais and came to 
Caesarea, where he entered the house of Philip the 
evangelist and abode with him. While he tarried 
with Philip, a certain prophet, Agabus by name, 
came down from Judea and declared that the Jews 
at Jerusalem would bind him and deliver him to the 
Gentiles. To which Paul replied: "I am ready not 
to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for 
the name of the Lord Jesus." 

(7) From Ccesarea to Jerusalem (Acts 21:14, 15). 
When Paul could not be deterred, the company made 
ready and went up to Jerusalem. 

V. PAUL'S ARREST, IMPRISONMENTS AND 
DEATH 

1. Paul at Jerusalem (Acts 21: 16, 17). Paul was 
received of the brethren at Jerusalem with gladness, 
and lodged with Mnason, an old disciple of Cyprus. 

2. Paul takes a Jewish vow (Acts 21 : 18-26). The 
day following, Paul went to see James, and, when 
he had recounted the things which God had done 
through him among the Gentiles, James and those 
who were with him glorified God. But, as the Jews 
had reported that he had taught the Jewish converts 
to forsake the law of Moses, they urged him, with 
four others who were of that purpose, to purify 
himself, shave his head, take a Jewish vow and offer 
a sacrifice. 

3. The arrest of Paul (Acts 21:27-34). When 
the seven days of his vow were almost ended, the 
Jews from Asia, seeing Paul in the Temple, raised a 
tumult, charging that he taught the people against 
the law and that he had polluted the Temple by 

480 



THE LIFE OF PAUL 



bringing Greeks into it. And, drawing him out, 
they beat him and delivered him to the chief cap- 
tain, who bound him with two chains and ordered 
that he be carried into the castle. 

4. Paul defends himself before the people (Acts 
21:35-22:29). When they came to the castle stairs, 
Paul demanded that he be permitted to speak to the 
people, which was granted. So, in the Hebrew 
tongue, he addressed the multitude, declaring the 
facts of his high birth, his persecution of the church, 
his conversion and his commission to preach the 
gospel. But, when the people heard him, they cried 
out against him, and the chief captain commanded 
that he be brought into the castle. As they were 
binding him with thongs, Paul inquired: "Is it 
lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, 
and uncondemned?" When the chief captain learned 
that Paul was a Roman citizen, he feared greatly. 

5. Paul is brought before the Sanhedrin (Acts 22 : 
30-23:10). On the morrow the chief captain called 
the chief priests and the council together and brought 
Paul before them. But, when he attempted to speak 
in his own defense, Ananias, the high priest, com- 
manded those who stood near to smite him in the 
mouth, at which Paul said: "God shall smite thee, 
thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after 
the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary 
to the law?" But, when he was told that it was the 
high priest, he apologized, saying: "I wist not, 
brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is 
written. Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of 
thy people." When Paul spoke of the resurrection, 
there was a division in the council, the Pharisees 

32 481 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



supporting Paul and the Sadducees opposing him. 
The contention became so strong that, for fear of 
violence to Paul, it became necessary for the chief 
captain to take him by force from among them and 
bring him into the castle. 

6. Paul imprisoned in the castle (Acts 23:11-22). 
The night following, the Lord stood by Paul and 
said : "Be of good cheer, Paul : for as thou hast testi- 
fied of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness 
also at Rome." When it was day, certain Jews to 
the number of forty banded themselves together and 
took an oath that they would neither eat nor drink 
until they had killed Paul. This plot was revealed 
to Paul and the chief captain by Paul's sister's son. 

7. Paul sent to Caesarea. 

(1) The journey to Ccesarea (Acts 23:23-35). 
After the discovery of the plot to kill Paul, the 
chief captain called two centurions and commanded 
them to take two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen 
and two hundred spearmen, and depart with Paul at 
the third hour of the night to Felix, the governor, 
at Caesarea. With this company the chief captain 
also sent a letter explaining to Felix the trouble 
that Paul had had with the Jews. Then the soldiers 
took Paul by night to Antipatris and, on the mor- 
row, returned to the castle, leaving him to continue 
his journey with the horsemen. Upon arriving at 
Caesarea, Paul was confined in Herod's judgment- 
hall. 

(2) Paul before Felix (Acts 24:1-26). After five 
days Ananias, the high priest, with the Jewish elders 
and a certain orator named Tertullus, came down 
from Jerusalem to appear against Paul. Tertullus 

482 



I 



THE LIFE OF PAUL 



began by flattering Felix and ended by declaring 
that Paul was a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition 
among the Jews, a ringleader of the sect of the 
Nazarenes and a profaner of the Temple. At the 
conclusion of Tertullus' address, the governor beck- 
oned Paul and he replied in his own behalf, denying 
the charges made against him, declaring his belief 
in a resurrection both of the just and the unjust, and 
explaining his conduct in the Temple at the time of 
his arrest. When Felix heard Paul's defense, he 
deferred his decision until he could hear the state- 
ment of Lysias, the chief captain, and, giving Paul 
into the hands of the centurion, he commanded 
that he should have his liberty. After certain 
days, Felix and his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, 
called for Paul, but when he reasoned of right- 
eousness, temperance and judgment to come, Felix 
trembled. 

(3) The silent two years at Ccesarea (Acts 24:27). 
For two years Paul remained at Csesarea, at the 
expiration of which time Porcius Festus succeeded 
Felix as governor. 

(4) Paul before Festus (Acts 25:1-12). When 
Festus became governor, he went from Csesarea to 
Jerusalem, where the Jews desired that he should 
send Paul. But Festus refused to do this, and, upon 
his return to Cassarea, commanded that Paul should 
be brought before him. As Paul stood in his pres- 
ence, the Jews made many untruthful complaints 
against him and, when he had answered these, Festus, 
willing to do the Jews a favor, asked: "Wilt thou 
go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these 
things before me?" To which Paul replied: *1 appeal 

483 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



unto Caesar." Then said Festus: "Unto Caesar shalt 
thou go." 

(S) Paul before Agrippa (Acts 25:13-26:32). 
After certain days, Agrippa the king, with his wife 
Bernice, came to Caesarea to visit Festus. And, when 
Festus had explained to Agrippa the case of Paul, 
the king desired to hear him, and on the morrow, at 
Festus' command, Paul was brought forth. Then 
Agrippa said: ''Thou art permitted to speak for thy- 
self." And Paul, stretching forth his hand, expressed 
his satisfaction at being permitted to make his de- 
fense before the king, and declared the facts of his 
birth, persecution of the church, conversion and 
ministry. At which Festus cried: "Paul, thou art 
beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad." 
But Paul replied: "I am not mad, most noble Festus; 
but speak forth the words of truth and soberness." 
After Paul had made his defense, those who heard 
declared that he had done nothing worthy of death 
or bonds and that he might have been set at liberty 
had he not appealed to Caesar. 

8. Paul sent to Rome. 

(1) The voyage and shipwreck (Acts 27:1-44). 
When it was determined that Paul should be sent 
to Rome, he was delivered to a centurion of Augus- 
tus' band, named Julius. Accompanied by Aristar- 
chus and Luke, they set sail. When they came near 
to Crete, a great storm arose and the ship was 
wrecked, the ship's company saving themselves by 
swimming or on boards and broken pieces of the 
ship. .The soldiers would have killed the prisoners 
to prevent them escaping, but the centurion, willing 
to save Paul, kept them from their purpose. During 

484 



THE LIFE OF PAUL 



the storm Paul encourag-ed the company, and declared 
that not one life should be lost, which proved true, 
for the entire number was saved. 

(2) Paul bitten by a viper on Melita (Acts 28 : 1- 
6). The land to which the company escaped was 
the island of Melita. As it was intensely cold and 
rainy, the barbarous inhabitants of the island kindled 
a fire for the comfort of the company. As Paul took 
up a bundle of sticks, a viper fastened itself upon 
his hand. Seeing this, the barbarians exclaimed: 
"No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he 
hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance sufifereth not 
to live." But, when they saw no harm come to him, 
they changed their minds and declared that he was 
a god. 

(3) Paul performs a number of miracles on Melita 
(Acts 28:7-10). Among the miracles performed by 
Paul upon the island of Melita was the healing of 
the father of Publius, the chief man of the island, 
who was afflicted with bloody flux. Many others, 
also, were healed of their diseases. 

(4) The completion of the journey (Acts 28:11- 
15). After spending three months upon the island 
of Melita, Paul and his companions departed in a 
ship of Alexandria for Syracuse, where they tarried 
three days. From Syracuse they sailed to Rhegium, 
and from thence to Puteoli, from which place, after 
seven days, they came to Rome. 

9. The career of Paul at Rome. 

(1) Paul's first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:16- 
31). When Paul and his companions came to Rome, 
he was delivered by the centurion to the captain of 
the guard and was permitted to live by himself with 

485 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



a soldier. For two whole years, in his own hired 
house, he received all who came to him, and 
preached the kingdom of God and the things con- 
cerning Jesus Christ to all, both Jew and Gentile, no 
one forbidding him. 

(2) Paul's second Roman imprisonment and death. 
It has been much disputed whether Paul endured 
two distinct imprisonments at Rome between A. D. 
61 and 68, or only one. The tradition from Clement 
and Eusebius favors two, with a year or more of 
liberty between. But, howsoever this may be, it is 
the unanimous testimony of tradition that he even- 
tually sealed his testimony with his blood and that 
he was beheaded at Rome in the year 68 A. D. 

QUESTIONS 

Give the population and extent of the Roman Empire in the 
time of Augustus C^sar. Name the emperors who reigned after 
Augustus and until A. D. 70. What was the character of the 
heathen religions with which Paul came in contact? How many 
great gods were worshiped in Greece and Rome? Why did Rome 
oppose Christianity? Give the conditions conducive to the spread 
of the gospel. Name Paul's companions on his first missionary 
tour. On his second. On his third. At Rome. Give the probable 
date of Paul's conversion. Of his first missionary tour. Of his 
second. Of his third. Of his imprisonment at Csesarea. Of 
his first imprisonment at Rome. Of his second imprisonment at 
Rome. Where was Paul born and where was he raised? What 
was he politically? What was he religiously? What event marks 
the beginning of Paul's persecution of the church? Tell about 
Paul's conversion. Give an account of the movements of Paul 
from his conversion to his first missionary tour. Where did Paul 
and Barnabas start from on their first missionary tour? What 
opposition did they meet at Paphos? How were Paul and Barna- 
bas received by the Jews at Antioch of Pisidia? Tell about the 
healing of the impotent man at Lystra and the effect it had upon 

486 



THE LIFE OF PAUL 



the people. To what city did Paul and Barnabas finally return? 
Describe the council at Jerusalem. Why did Paul and Barnabas 
part company? Whom did Paul select as his companion in the 
place of Barnabas on his second missionary tour? Who joined 
Paul and Silas at Lystra, and what can you say of him? Describe 
the vision that Paul had at Troas. Give two events that occurred 
at Philippi. Tell about the founding of the church at Thessalo- 
nica. What was the difference between the Jews of Berea and 
those of Thessalonica? Tell about Paul's visit to Athens. Give 
two events that happened at Corinth. Where did Paul go at the 
close of his second missionary tour and whom did he take with 
him? Give the extent and purpose of Paul's third missionary 
tour. Who, at this time, preached the Word at Ephesus? Give 
the things that occurred at Ephesus under Paul's ministrations. 
Give the points touched by Paul on his return from his third 
missionary tour. How did the Jews at Jerusalem feel toward 
Paul? Did Paul know that they hated him? With whom did 
Paul lodge at Jerusalem? Tell about Paul's visit to James, and 
tell what James advised him. to do. Why did James advise this? 
Upon what charge was Paul arrested at Jerusalem? Where was 
Paul taken immediately after his arrest? Give his defense before 
the people. What caused the chief captain to fear Paul? Before 
what council was Paul first brought and what happened there? 
What plot was laid against Paul's life and who revealed it? 
When the plot was discovered, where was Paul sent? Who ac- 
companied him? To whom was Paul sent at Csesarea? What 
office did Felix hold? Tell about Paul's trial before Felix. How 
many years was Paul in Csesarea? Who succeeded Felix as 
governor? Tell about Paul's appearance before Festus. What 
position did Agrippa fill? Tell about Paul's appearance before 
Agrippa. Where was Paul sent from Csesarea, and why? Where 
was he shipwrecked? What happened to him on Melita? What 
miracles did he perform on Melita? Give the points touched in 
the completion of the journey. How many imprisonments is 
Paul supposed to have suffered at Rome ? How was he treated at 
Rome? How does tradition say he died? 



487 



STUDY XL. THE NEW TESTAMENT 
WRITINGS 

INTRODUCTION 

1. The New Testament. This title is appHed to 
that collection of sacred and inspired books which 
were written by the apostles or their associates after 
the ascension of our Lord and within the first 
century of the Christian era. 

2. The canon of the New Testament. By the 
term "canon" we mean a rule of faith and practice. 
The twenty-seven books of the New Testament are 
accepted as such by all Catholics and the majority 
of Protestants. Some, however, would reduce the 
number of New Testament books by rejecting such 
as Hebrews, James,^ 2 Peter and Revelation, the 
genuineness of which they either question or deny. 

3. The text of the New Testament. The text of 
the New Testament comes down to us in no less 
than 2,080 manuscripts, of which eighty-three are 
uncials and 1,997 are cursives.^ The uncial manu- 
scripts are those which were written in capitals and 
which date from the fourth to the tenth century; 
the cursive manuscripts are those which were written 
in a running hand and which date from the tenth 
century to the invention of printing from movable 



* Martin Luther called the Epistle of James an "epistle of straw." 
2 For a good description of these manuscripts, see "The Text and 
Canon of the New Testament," by McGarvey. 

489 



THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITINGS 

type about the middle of the fifteenth. Among these 
different manuscripts there exist thousands of differ- 
ent readings which have perplexed the casual and 
uninformed student, but to those who have given 
their close attention to this matter, these discrep- 
ancies possess but little force. Prof. J. W. McGarvey 
says: 

The various readings consist mainly in differences of Greek 
orthography; in the form of words not affecting the essential 
meaning; in the insertion or omission of words not essential to 
the sense; in the use of one synonym for another; and in the 
transposition of words whose order in the sentence is immaterial. 
It is obvious that such variations, however numerous, leave the 
text uncorrupted as regards its thoughts. An essay might be 
written in English, with almost every word misspelt and every 
sentence ungrammatical, which would still express its meaning as 
clearly as the most accurate and elegant composition. The writings 
of "Josh Billings" are as clear as those of Addison. It is only, 
then, in the one-thousandth part of the New Testament, or the 
part in which the variations affect the meaning, that the text has 
undergone corruption worthy of any serious inquiry. — The Text 
and the Canon of the New Testament, p. 14. 

On the same point Dr. Philip Schaff says: 

This multitude of various readings of the Greek text need not 
puzzle or alarm any Christian. It is the natural result of the 
great wealth of our documentary resources ; it is a testimony to 
the immense impotrance of the New Testament ; it does not affect, 
but it rather insures, the integrity of the text ; and it is a useful 
stimulus to study. 

Only about 400 of the 100,000 or 150,000 variations materially 
affect the sense. Of these, again, not more than about fifty are 
really important for some reason or other ; and even of these fifty 
not one affects an article of faith or a precept of duty which is 
not abundantly sustained by other and undoubted passages, or 
by the whole tenor of Scripture teaching. The Textus Recepttis 
of Stephens, Beza and Elzevir, and of our English version, teach 

489 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



precisely the same Christianity as the uncial text of the Sinaitic 
and Vatican manuscripts, the oldest versions, and the Anglo- 
American Revision. — Companion to the New Testament, p. 177. 

4. The textual critics. Those who have sought 
to restore the orginal text to its uncorrupted form 
are known as textual, or lower, critics in distinction 
to the so-called higher critics. Among them may 
be mentioned such scholars as Richard Bentley, J. A. 
Bengel, J. J. Wetstein, J. J. Griesbach, Charles Lach- 
man, Constantine Tischendorf, S. P. Tregelles, B. F. 
Westcott and F. J. A. Hort. 

5. The writers of the New Testament. The 
writers of the books of the New Testament were 
mostly unlearned men, and as such were wholly 
incapable of producing such a work independent of 
divine help. In number there were eight, named as 
follows: Matthew, John, Paul, James, Peter, Mark, 
Luke and Jude. Of these, the first five were apostles ; 
the other three, companions of the apostles. 

I. THE FOUR GOSPELS 

L Matthew. The author of this book was a 
Galilean Jew who had been a receiver of customs 
under the Roman Government. He is also called 
Levi (Mark 2:14), which was probably his original 
Hebrew name, while Matthew was his assumed 
Roman name. The date of this book has been much 
discussed, but there is little reason for discrediting 
the traditional date of 37 A. D. It is known certainly 
to have been written before the destruction of Jeru- 
salem, for it contains an unfulfilled prophecy of that 
event (24:1-28). Whether or not it was originally 
written in Hebrew is a debated question. If it was, 

490 



THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITINGS 

it is certain that it was translated into Greek during 
the first century. 

2. Mark. Mark was the son of a pious woman in 
Jerusalem and the intimate friend of the apostle 
Peter (Acts 12:12; 1 Pet. 5:13). He was also the 
friend and companion of Paul until a misunderstand- 
ing between that apostle and Barnabas respecting 
him produced a separation (Acts 15:36-41). Ac- 
cording to the earliest testimony, Mark wrote his 
Gospel at Rome, under the personal superintendence 
of the apostle Peter and for the instruction of Roman 
converts from paganism. The date of this Gospel 
has been variously fixed between A. D. 57 and 63. 
The uncontradicted testimony of antiquity is that 
the author spent the latter part of his life in Alex- 
andria, Egypt, as an overseer of the churches there. 

3. Luke. Luke was probably a Gentile by birth 
and was a physician by profession (Col. 4: 11, 14). 
He was a citizen of Antioch and was familiar with 
Greek literature, as is evidenced by the structure of 
his Gospel and the Book of Acts. His Gospel was 
written sometime between A. D. 63 and 68. We 
find him mentioned in Acts as the companion of Paul, 
and it is said that, after the latter's death, he 
preached the gospel in Italy, Dalmatia, Macedonia 
and Bithynia until an advanced age, when he suffered 
martyrdom. 

4. John. This Gospel was written by the be- 
loved disciple, who was the son of Zebedee and 
Salome, probably people of some social distinction, 
and the brother of James, He was born in Beth- 
saida of Galilee, the home of Andrew and Peter, and 
was by occupation a fisherman. At first he was a 

491 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



disciple of the Baptist, but he left him to follow 
Jesus, of whom he afterwards became an apostle. 
He was four or five years younger than the Lord. 
After the crucifixion he remained at Jerusalem until 
the death of Jesus' mother and the imprisonment of 
Paul, when he removed to Ephesus, about 65 A. D., 
and took charge of that important church. Later he 
was banished to the island called Patmos. His 
Gospel was written sometime between A. D. 85 and 
90. 

11. THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 

The Acts of the Apostles was written by the evan- 
gelist Luke, and is to the apostles what the four 
Gospels are to the Lord. It covers the history of 
the church from the ascension of Jesus Christ to the 
first imprisonment of the apostle Paul, or from 30 to 
about 63 A. D. Probably written about A. D. 64, 
at Rome. 

III. THE SPECIAL EPISTLES 

The special Epistles were written by the apostle 
Paul and may be classified as follows: 

1. The Epistles written during the second mis- 
sionary journey, 51-54 A. D. — 1 Thessalonians and 
2 Thessalonians. 

2. The Epistles written during the third mission- 
ary journey, 54-58 A. D. — 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, 
Galatians and Romans. 

3. The Epistles written during the first imprison- 
ment, 61-63 A. D. — Philippians, Colossians, Philemon 
and Ephesians. 

4. The Epistles written during Paul's closing 

492 



THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITINGS 

years, after 63 A. D. — 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and 
Titus. 

Considered in their chronological order, the special 
Epistle^ are as follows: 

1. 1 Thessalonians. Thessalonica was the prin- 
cipal city of Macedonia and was visited by Paul and 
Silas during the second missionary journey. This 
first Epistle was written at Corinth, probably late 
in 52 A. D., and was for the purpose of comforting 
the Thessalonian Christians in trial and to encourage 
them to walk according to their profession and to 
take comfort in the hope of Christ's second coming 
and the resurrection of the dead. 

2. 2 Thessalonians. The second Epistle to the 
Thessalonians was also probably written at Corinth 
and early in the year 53 A. D. The Thessalonians 
seem to have imbibed the notion, probably from 
Paul's first Epistle, that the day of the Lord was 
near at hand and had neglected to labor. This 
Epistle was written to relieve their minds of this 
erroneous expectation and to inform them that a 
great apostasy must first come before the Son of 
man would appear in his glory. 

3. 1 Corinthians. This Epistle was written at 
Ephesus about 57 A. D. Having heard through the 
household of Chloe that there were in that church 
certain divisions and moral disorders, Paul wrote 
to overcome the spirit of schism and immorality that 
prevailed. In the fifteenth chapter he gives an 
extended account of the resurrection of the dead. 

4. 2 Corinthians. Paul wrote his second Epistle 
to the Corinthians probably at Philippi and early 
in 58 A. D. In it he expresses his joy that the 

493 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



Corinthians had taken heed to the admonitions given 
in his first Epistle and defends his own calUng and 
work. 

5. Galatians. The Epistle to the Galatians was 
probably written at Corinth in 58 A. D. Its purpose 
was to preserve the fickle Galatians, who were not 
of Grecian, but of Gaulish, descent, from the teach- 
ings of the Judaizing missionaries from Palestine. 

6. Romans. Paul's Epistle to the Romans was 
written at Corinth in A. D. 58. As he was about to 
visit the city of Rome, he announced beforehand the 
doctrines that he would personally deliver there. The 
theme of this Epistle is justification by faith and 
not '-^^ the deeds of law. 

7. Philippians. The date of this Epistle was 62 
A. D., and the place where it was written, Rome. Its 
theme is Christian experience, and in it Christ is 
brought before the Christian as his life, his pattern, 
his object and his strength. 

8. Colossians. Colossians was written at Rome 
in 63 A. D. Like a number more of Paul's Epistles, 
it was written in defense of the true faith against 
the Judaizers. 

9. Philemon. Written at the same time and in 
the same place as Colossians. Onesimus, a slave of 
Philemon, a Christian of Colosse, had robbed his 
master and had fled to Rome, where he had been 
converted to the Christian faith through Paul. The 
occasion of this Epistle was to urge Philemon to 
receive favorably his former slave again. 

10. Ephesians. Written at the same time and 
place as Colossians and Philemon and sent to Eph- 
esus by the same messenger that bore them. In it 

494 



THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITINGS 

Paul emphasizes the doctrine of the unity of the 
church, representing it as the body of Christ. 

11. 1 Timothy. This Epistle was probably writ- 
ten in Macedonia and shortly after Paul's release 
from his first imprisonment in 66 A. D. It contains 
certain admonitions to Timothy regarding his work 
as a minister of Jesus Christ. 

12. Titus. Date and place the same as 1 Timothy. 
It contains a number of admonitions to Titus similar 
to those given to Timothy. 

13. 2 Timothy. This Epistle was written by 
Paul shortly before his martyrdom. In it he speaks 
of the coming apostasy and warns Timothy to 
continue in the things which he had learned and 
had been assured of. "'• 

IV. THE GENERAL EPISTLES 

1. Hebrews. The author of this Epistle is un- 
known, though it is probably the production of 
Paul; at least, the point of view is Pauline. How- 
ever, some have ascribed it to Barnabas and others 
to Silas or Apollos. The date is also unknown, 
except that it was written before the destruction of 
Jerusalem. This is inferred from chap. 10:11, and 
other circumstances. Its purpose was to show that 
the law was fulfilled in Christ. 

2. James. The author of this Epistle was James 
"the just," one of the "pillars" of the church at 
Jerusalem (Gal. 2:9). He was extremely austere 
and legalistic. The date of this Epistle is unknown, 
but probably very early. Tradition says that James 
suffered martyrdom in 62 A. D. 

3. 1 Peter, This Epistle was probably written 

495 



THE GIST OF THE BIBLE 



in 60 A. D. Just where it was written is uncertain. 
If we understand ''Babylon" of chap. 5 : 13 literally, 
it must have been written on the site of that city 
on the Euphrates; if we understand it figuratively, 
it may have been at Rome. Roman Catholics, almost 
universally, take the latter view. Special emphasis 
is laid in it on the atonement. 

4. 2 Peter. Probably written in 66 A. D. This 
Epistle has many things in common with 2 Timothy. 
As in the latter, Paul is anticipating his death, so, 
also, in this Peter is anticipating his. In this Epistle 
Christian virtue is extolled; the Scriptures are ex- 
alted; the church is warned against apostate teachers, 
and those addressed are taught to keep in memory 
the coming of the Lord and attending events. 

5. The Three Epistles of John. They were all 
probably written in 90 A. D. They are the most 
intimate of the inspired writings. 

6. Jude. Written by Jude, the brother of James, 
and about 66 A. D. The theme is earnestly contend- 
ing for the true faith. The great apostasy is treated 
as having already commenced. 

V. THE BOOK OF REVELATION 

The author of this book was John, and the place, 
the island of Patmos. There is much dispute over 
the date, some ascribing it to the reign of Nero in 
67 or 68, and others to 96 or 97, after the death of 
Domitian. The book abounds in symbols which 
have not been uniformly interpreted and applied. In 
reference to the Book of Revelation, there are three 
schools of interpretation: the prseterist, the historical 
and the futurist. Those of the first find a fulfillment 

496 



THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITINGS 

of most of the symbols within the first three or four 
centuries of the Christian era. "Those of the his- 
torical school contend that these symbols stand for 
events and conditions that were to occur and arise 
during the whole period of time between the ascen- 
sion of Christ and the final consummation, while 
the futurists contend that the book, excepting the 
first three chapters, is yet to be fulfilled. The Roman 
Catholics have largely held to the first view; the 
reformers, to the second, while the third has been 
strongly advocated by the EngHsh literalists and 
many American premillennialists. 

QUESTIONS 

Define the New Testament. What do we mean by the term 
"canon" ? Give the names of the New Testament books that are 
rejected by some. Give the difference between an uncial and a 
cursive manuscript. How many manuscripts, in all, have we of 
the New Testament? What can you say of the different readings 
among these manuscripts? Give the substance of the passage 
from McGarvey. Give the substance of the passage from Schaff. 
What is the difference between a Textual Critic and a Higher 
Critic? Name some of the Lower Critics. How many New 
Testament writers have we? How many of them were apostles? 
Name them. Give an account of Matthew. Of Mark. Of Luke. 
Of John. Of Acts. Of 1 Thessalonians. Of 2 Thessalonians. 
Of 1 Corinthians. Of 2 Corinthians. Of Galatians. Of Romans. 
Of Philippians. Of Colossians. Of Philemon. Of Ephesians. 
Of 1 Timothy. Of Titus. Of 2 Timothy. Of Hebrews. Of 
James. Of 1 Peter. Of 2 Peter. Of the Epistles of John. Of 
Jude. Of Revelation. Classify the Epistles of the apostle Paul. 



497 



LBJl'25 



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